Like a scene out of one of the countless Mummy movies that followed in the years and decades after the actual event, British archaeologist Howard Carter, surrounded by a team of wide-eyed colleagues, interpreters, and hired hands, held their breathe in anticipation as the long lost Tomb of Tutankhamun, known colloquially ever after as King Tut, was pried open for the first time in more than 3,000 years. Well aware of what locals warned of as the "Curse of the Pharaohs," which was said to bring misfortune and death to any who dared desecrate the tombs found within the Valley of the Kings, Carter and his crew proceeded with their work, making one of the most significant historical finds of the 20th century — that of the completely intact Tomb of Tutankhamun on February 16, 1923.

"The Moment Carter Opens the Tomb," recreated image by Harry Burton, 1924, image via the NYTimes Photo Archive

While all present lived to tell the tale, Howard Carter soon became one of the most famous archaeologists of his day. The Egyptomania craze of the 1920s spread like wildfire through Western Culture in the immediate aftermath of the discovery and influenced the realm of art, architecture, and design for the better part of a decade. The interest in Ancient Egypt, and mummies in particular, became a Hollywood mainstay for the next century.

Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, public domain archival image

While earlier related discoveries had rekindled public interest in Ancient Egypt, the massive world-wide news coverage dedicated to the finding of King Tut's Tomb, plus the unfathomable riches and iconic gold-plated funerary mask held within, not to mention the mummified remains of the Boy King himself, were more than enough to fuel the fires of the imagination. The effects of Egytopmania — and Tutmania — would be felt across North America and Europe for years to come.

Valley of the Kings, near the entrance to KV62, image by Peter J. Bubenik via Wikimedia Commons

Today, the Valley of the Kings and the Tomb of Tutankhamun (known today as site KV62), remain popular tourist destinations for those travelling to Luxor. The active archaeological site is located roughly 675 kilometres south of Cairo. While regular access to much of the site is heavily restricted in order to prevent decay and disruption of artefacts, tours of certain areas of the site and certain tombs and artefact displays are open to the public. The Valley of the Kings is just as awe-inspiring today as it has been for the past 3,000 years.

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