It turns out the infamous “Curse of the Pharaohs” was less about ancient magic and more about a bitter media rivalry. A recently auctioned letter from archaeologist Howard Carter reveals his disdain for journalist Arthur Weigall, whom Carter blamed for inventing the myth out of spite. Carter was the man who discovered Tutankhamun’s resting place in 1922. After being denied exclusive access to the tomb discovery, a “pique-filled” Weigall allegedly spun sensationalist yarns to get back at Carter’s team. While several deaths in the years after the discovery fueled the myth, modern science points to mundane causes like infected mosquito bites rather than mummies. The letter offers a rare glimpse into how media rivalry helped create one of archaeology’s most enduring legends.
artnet
