New York: A scientist claims to have unraveled the enigmatic curse associated with King Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, a curse that has long been linked to the mysterious deaths of several of the tomb’s excavators back in 1922. Ross Fellowes, in an article published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration (JSE) last month, suggests that toxic levels of radiation, stemming from uranium and other hazardous waste, may have permeated the tomb’s surroundings.
According to the study reviewed by the New York Post, the tomb, sealed for over 3,000 years, emits radiation at levels so intense that individuals coming into contact with it would likely suffer from fatal doses of radiation sickness and cancer.
Fellowes’ research, conducted over a century later, proposes that high levels of radioactivity are not confined to King Tutankhamun’s tomb alone. “Both contemporary and ancient Egyptian populations exhibit unusually high rates of hematopoietic cancers, which are commonly associated with radiation exposure,” Fellowes wrote in his study.
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Furthermore, he asserts that elevated radiation levels have been detected in various ancient Egyptian tomb ruins, extending across sites in Egypt. “Radiation has been identified using Geiger counters at two locations adjacent to the pyramids in Giza,” he notes. Additionally, radon, a radioactive gas, has been found in “several underground tombs at Saqqara,” with readings indicating intense radioactivity.
“Modern studies confirm significantly elevated radiation levels in ancient Egyptian tombs, exceeding accepted safety standards by tenfold,” the study elaborates. Fellowes also theorizes that the builders of these ancient tombs were aware of the dangers, as evidenced by warning messages carved into the walls.
“The curse’s nature was explicitly stated on certain tombs,” he highlights, citing an example of inscriptions translating to: “Those who disturb this tomb shall meet death through an illness that no doctor can diagnose.”
The fear of supernatural curses has cast a long shadow over these ancient ruins, captivating enthusiasts of pyramids, pharaohs, and Egypt alike.
The mystery deepened with the untimely death of Lord Carnarvon, who financed the 1922 excavation and was among the first to witness the treasure-filled chambers upon the tomb’s unsealing. “Carnarvon succumbed to death within weeks, following a diagnosis of blood poisoning and pneumonia,” Fellowes wrote.
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Arthur Weigall, a prominent Egyptologist who allegedly propagated the ‘curse’ myth, also met an untimely demise from cancer at the age of 54, further fueling speculation.
Six out of 26 individuals present during the tomb’s unsealing died within a decade, succumbing to various causes, including asphyxia, stroke, diabetes, heart failure, pneumonia, poisoning, malaria, and X-ray exposure.
Strange occurrences during the tomb’s unsealing, such as a mosquito bite leading to a severe infection for Carnarvon and a sudden power outage accompanied by a major sandstorm in Cairo, added to the aura of mystery. Even Carnarvon’s beloved dog reportedly perished with an eerie howl.
While the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb shed light on ancient Egyptian burial practices and propelled the field of Egyptology, it also left behind a legacy shrouded in intrigue and speculation. The excavation of the tomb, which yielded over five thousand artifacts, including gold funeral shoes, statues, games, and exotic animals, captivated the world’s imagination.
Excavators spent nearly a decade meticulously uncovering the tomb’s treasures, offering insights into the life and death of Tutankhamun, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ascended the throne at a young age but tragically passed away before reaching adulthood.
