Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery Day
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Overview
Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery Day, observed annually on November 26th, commemorates the momentous occasion in 1922 when British archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon first peered into the antechamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. This pivotal event revealed an untouched royal burial site, offering an unparalleled glimpse into ancient Egyptian civilization and captivating the world.
Origin and story
On November 26, 1922, Howard Carter made the famous 'Do you see anything?' inquiry, to which Lord Carnarvon replied, 'Yes, wonderful things!'
The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered almost entirely intact, a rarity for pharaonic burials which had typically been looted over millennia.
Quick facts
- DateNovember 26
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
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Ways to celebrate
By 1922, Lord Carnarvon had nearly given up funding Howard Carter's years of fruitless digging in the Valley of the Kings — he agreed to fund just one more season, and weeks later a water boy stumbled over a buried step that led to Tutankhamun's sealed tomb. When Carter chiseled a small hole into the doorway and peered in by candlelight, Carnarvon asked, "Can you see anything?" Carter's famous reply: "Yes, wonderful things!"
Look at the treasures themselves
- Search for photos of Tutankhamun's gold burial mask and the tomb's other artifacts, most of which are now displayed in Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum.
Read the day-by-day account
Helpful resources: HISTORY recounts the discovery and its immediate aftermath in "Archaeologists enter tomb of King Tut."
Separate the myth from the record
- Look into the "Curse of Tutankhamun" legend sparked by Lord Carnarvon's death from an infected mosquito bite the following year — historians largely attribute it to coincidence and sensationalized press coverage rather than any curse.
Did you know?
Tutankhamun's tomb is considered the most intact pharaonic burial site ever found in the Valley of the Kings, largely because it had escaped the extensive looting that emptied most other royal tombs centuries earlier.
Fun facts
- On November 26, 1922, Howard Carter made the famous 'Do you see anything?' inquiry, to which Lord Carnarvon replied, 'Yes, wonderful things!'
- The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered almost entirely intact, a rarity for pharaonic burials which had typically been looted over millennia.
- Tutankhamun was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who reigned during the Eighteenth Dynasty (c. 1332–1323 BC), often referred to as the 'boy king' due to his young age at accession and death.
- The discovery of the tomb and its incredible treasures sparked a global fascination with ancient Egypt and contributed significantly to Egyptology.
- Despite popular legends of a 'curse of the pharaohs,' most deaths associated with the tomb's opening have been attributed to natural causes or coincidence.
Sources and attribution
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery Day?
- It is observed on November 26 each year.
- What is Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery Day?
- Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery Day, observed annually on November 26th, commemorates the momentous occasion in 1922 when British archaeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon first peered into the antechamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. This pivotal event revealed an untouched royal burial site, offering an unparalleled glimpse into ancient Egyptian civilization and captivating the world.
- How do people celebrate Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovery Day?
- Look up photos of Tutankhamun's gold burial mask and other tomb artifacts, and read up on Howard Carter's famous 1922 exchange with Lord Carnarvon, ending in Carter's reply, 'Yes, wonderful things!'
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