The Curse of the Pharaohs’ Tombs: Tales of the unexpected since the days of Tutankhamun

Ever since the tomb of Tutankhamun was opened, the Curse of the Pharaoh has been with us. It is one of those ideas that mixes magic with history, a story that appeals to the part of us that wishes mystery and myth loomed larger in our worldviews. Like the disappearance of Amelia Earhart or the tales of sasquatches lurking in the Pacific Northwest, the Curse of the Pharaoh keeps an intriguing question mark where, so often, fact otherwise reigns supreme.

Less a history book and more a collection of Egypt-tinged campfire tales about curses, The Curse of the Pharaoh’s Tombs tries to encapsulate both the history and the mythos around Carter’s famous excavation. Along the way, Harrison explores funerary rites, the afterlife, and the lives of those involved with the dig.

Although the mystical side of the story is always entertaining, the most interesting part was the glimpse into Carter himself, since Harrison offers plenty of evidence to support the idea that Carter profited both politically and monetarily by plundering Tut’s tomb beyond the items that ended up in museums.

This book is a solid introduction to the tomb of Tutankhamun and its lengthy legacy in popular culture.