Ancient Egyptian tombs. How the curse of the pharaohs kills people who disturb the peace of Egyptian tombs. Burial of the Pharaoh or the Tomb of Osiris

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Tombs of Archaic Period Rulers

At the end of prehistoric times there were no special places for burials; the dead were usually buried near settlements and villages. They were buried in the ground near the huts.

With the advent of copper tools and tools, more attention began to be paid to funeral rites and burial sites.

In Badari (Upper Egypt), the walls of graves began to be lined with mats, and in some graves a canopy was built over the body of the deceased. Graves, lined with bricks and consisting of several rooms, appeared for the first time in the Negad culture.

After the unification of the northern and southern lands, the pharaohs of the 1st and 2nd dynasties began to specifically emphasize their wealth and power. They built huge tombs and held magnificent funerals. High-ranking nobles followed the example of the pharaohs. Archaeologists have found and excavated royal burials of the archaic period in Saqqara, the “city of the dead” of the first capital of united Egypt, Memphis. The same graves were found in Abydos, in the area of ​​​​the Upper Egyptian city of This. According to assumptions, symbolic graves and tombs of ancient rulers were located in Abydos. Both parts of the state, despite the fact that they were ruled by one pharaoh, were still quite independent, so the pharaoh had to be buried in two places - naturally, one of the burials was symbolic.

The “city of the dead,” like the city of the living, was located on the border of the desert and fertile land; even the tombs resembled residential buildings in their shape. The tombs at Abydos and Saqqara represent two main types of funerary structures. The difference between them is clearly visible in the example of the authentic tomb of Queen Merneth at Saqqara and her symbolic burial at Abydos. The buildings were massive, had a block-like shape, the walls were smooth, as is customary in the south. They stood in a courtyard that was surrounded by a wall. Inside the tomb there was a central burial room, around which several chambers could be located. In the tomb of the northern type, the structure was decorated with flat blades with figured teeth. Inside the tomb, the pharaoh's tomb was surrounded by cameras and premises. An example of this type of funerary structure is the tomb at Saqqara, which is believed to belong to the pharaoh Aha. Its underground part was divided into five separate chambers; the middle chamber probably contained the body of the pharaoh in a wooden sarcophagus. The remaining rooms could contain his personal belongings. A brick structure with 27 rooms rose above the burial chamber. In these rooms, hunting equipment was stored, there were vessels with wine and dishes with food, and there were other utensils that the pharaoh might need in afterlife. External part the tombs and its above-ground building were separated by deep niches. It was surrounded by two low walls. It is possible that between the internal wall and eastern wall the tombs provided a place for sacrifices. Here relatives brought gifts and food for the occupant of the grave. The outside walls and the tomb building itself were decorated with stucco ornaments.

Of course, there is no clear boundary between these two main types of funerary buildings. The tomb of Pharaoh Meni, who united the country, in Negad is also divided by pillars.

The layout of burials of the archaic period in many cases predetermines the layout of tomb ensembles and burials of the Old Kingdom: The ascent road led to the tomb building, next to which there was a sacrificial altar in the courtyard. Starting with the complex of the tomb of Pharaoh Ka, the last king of the 1st dynasty, another one was added to these elements - the prayer house of the cult of the deceased pharaoh.

Mastabas

As a result of the development of the form of graves and tombs of the rulers of archaic times, mastabas appeared. This is the earliest type of pharaonic tomb of the Old Kingdom period. Mastaba has the shape truncated pyramid with several rooms inside and an underground burial chamber.

They built mastabas from unbaked bricks.

The valley located behind the tomb of Pharaoh Mentuhotep I became a permanent burial place for the pharaohs. Another valley located next to it became the burial place of members royal families and nobility.

Strabo visited Thebes and the burial place of the pharaohs, which today is called the Valley of the Kings.

He wrote that in this valley there are rock tombs of forty Egyptian pharaohs (today we know of 60 rock tombs of Egyptian pharaohs). These tombs are very interesting and worth seeing. As you can see, already in the times of the Roman Empire, these monuments of Egyptian architecture were considered places that attracted the attention and interest of travelers. Naturally, even then the tombs had long been robbed; only a few escaped this fate. It was in vain that the entrance to the tomb was carefully disguised.

Thutmose I was the first Egyptian pharaoh to be buried in the Valley of the Kings. The tombs of the first pharaohs of the 18th dynasty are relatively small; The burial chamber in which the pharaoh's sarcophagus stands is decorated with pillars and has an oval shape. As a rule, the path through the premises is made by at least one bend, and in some cases it is built along an irregular curve. In later times, the tombs became more extensive, and in late XIX dynasty, their layout again became linear. Some burials extended hundreds of meters underground. For example, the tomb of Queen Hatshepsut was 213 m long and went to a depth of 97 m. At the end of the tomb there is a burial chamber with a sarcophagus.

The vault of royal tombs was usually cylindrical in shape. The walls were decorated with colored bas-reliefs and paintings. They depicted life in the afterlife, the path of the deceased, the life of the gods. These wall paintings and bas-reliefs are beautiful monuments of ancient Egyptian visual arts. The tomb symbolized the afterlife, through which the Sun travels every night. Because of this, each room and corridor of the tomb had its own name. In the tomb of Ramesses IX, the descent was called "the first corridor of the god." The deep shafts found in other tombs were probably also related to this symbol system. According to the results of the latest research, these shafts were identified with the deep cave over which the boat of the Sun god was supposed to pass. The pharaoh's sarcophagus was made of pure gold, and the religious objects in the burial room were also made of gold. That's why it was called the "golden house." However, the entire royal tomb deserved such a name. Huge treasures were collected in it. If we judge this by the jewels that were found in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, small in comparison with other tombs, one can imagine what treasures the tombs of the great pharaohs kept.

The straightening of the internal layout of the tombs is associated with the strengthening of the cult of the Sun god; the first such tombs were built in Akhetaten, the capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten. The linear layout of the interior served to ensure that the rays of the Sun could penetrate as far as possible, reaching the most remote corners of the tomb, burial chamber and sarcophagus of the pharaoh. Since the entrance to the tomb was walled up, this had a purely symbolic meaning.

So, the pharaohs of the New Kingdom tried to hide the site of their tomb. But they did not lose faith in the divine power of the pyramid, it was simply that its role was assigned to the mountain that towered above the valley. The symbolism of the Sun continues to live. The pharaohs of the New Kingdom built their mortuary temples far from their tombs, on the border of the desert and fertile land.

After the New Kingdom collapsed, the rulers of Egypt stopped building rock tombs in the Theban Mountains. No matter how hard the pharaohs tried to disguise the entrance to their tombs, the robbers found it. Therefore, Egyptian kings, starting with the pharaohs of the XXI dynasty, began to build underground burial chambers on the territory of the Temple of Amun in new capital Tanise. This area was considered sacred and was surrounded by a wall. At the same time, the so-called “houses of Ka” were erected in Thebes, following the example of the ancient symbolic tombs of the pharaohs in Abydos.

When Howard Carter, who was excavating in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, telegraphed the head of the expedition to the English Lord Carnavorn, he was overcome with great excitement:

“We made a sensational discovery. In the Valley of the Kings we found the sealed tomb of the pharaoh Ancient Egypt. We are waiting for you for further instructions on the continuation of work. Howard Carter."

Excavations continued unsuccessfully for more than seven years. Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, who provided the financial side of the event, were convinced that the magnificent tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun hid its treasures somewhere in the sands.

About two weeks later, the lord went to the excavation site. Immediately upon arrival, he went to inspect the find. The royal seals on it were intact, which meant that the burial had not been found by tomb robbers. Several chambers were densely packed, like sea bales, with golden treasures. The last hall of the pharaoh's tomb, Carnarvon steps into the darkness:

— Do you see anything, Carter? - he asks the archaeologist in front.

The candle flame swayed, illuminating the path for Howard:

- Yes, countless treasures.

The gold left in the tomb for Pharaoh Tutankhamun blinded the scientists and they did not pay attention to the stone tablet, the inscription on which read in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs: “He who disturbs the peace of the pharaoh will perish.” Did they believe the warning? Most likely, they took note. But... they tried to hide these words from the workers who carried out work in the tomb. The tablet with the inscription was not included in the register of found valuables. And still no one knows where she is. All measures were taken into account by the organizers of the excavations, except one... There was an amulet in the collection of treasures of the Egyptian pharaoh. The inscription on it read:

“I put the grave desecrators to flight. I guard the peace of the tomb of Tutankhamun."

Call of the Guardian of Tutankhamun's Tomb

In total, the expedition consisted of 17 people, including Carter and Lord Carnarvon. On February 13, 1923, the burial chamber of the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was entered.

Afterwards, the archaeologist in his notes described the first impression that followed the discovery of the royal seals:

“As soon as we opened the doors, all team members felt like uninvited guests in this place.”

Just a few days after the discovery of the treasure, the English philanthropist Carnarvon left the excavation site and Luxor, hastily going to Cairo. What caused such a quick departure of the man who had fully financed the excavations for all seven years remained a mystery to everyone. Was it really so unbearable for him to be in the vicinity of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the doors of which were opened by his order, despite the intended warning?

A month later, at the beginning of April, bad news came from the lord: he remained bedridden with a serious illness. Doctors could not determine the cause of the sharp deterioration in his health.

Carnarvon's son, who had just returned from a trip to the UK from India, noticed while dining on the terrace with his father that he was not feeling well. The condition worsened every hour. He had chills and a fever. His colleague Howard Carter found him in this state.

The younger Carnarvon spoke about the events leading up to the lord's death:

“Shortly before my father’s last breath, he began to experience hallucinations and delusions. He shouted the name of Tutankhamun and talked about him. No one could understand the essence of the conversation. But in the last few minutes of his life he was in a conscious state. He turned to his wife with the words: “It’s over. The call calls me and I follow it.” These were his last words on deathbed".

As soon as Lord Carnarvon closed his eyes, the light suddenly went out in all of Cairo. The main power plant failed, for what reason engineers were never able to figure out.

New victims of the Pharaoh's curse

The English Lord Carnarvon died in Cairo at the age of 57. He was in good health, and nothing foreshadowed such a quick death. Meanwhile, within the walls, the mummy of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was waiting in the wings. An amulet was hidden under the bandages of the young king’s desecrated body. On its back were inscribed words of curse against grave robbers in the ancient Egyptian dialect.

Following the patron, two employees who participated in the opening of the tomb died: George Jay-Gol and Arthur C. Mace.

Archaeologist Mace helped Howard Carter move the last stone that covered the entrance to the pharaoh's burial chamber. Suddenly he began to complain of weakness and apathy. As a result, he completely lost his mind. His days ended at the Continental Hotel in Cairo, as did Lord Carnarvon. The doctors did not dare to name the cause of his sudden death.

George Jay-Gold, American by birth, big businessman, whose fortune was measured in millions of dollars, carefully followed the news of archeology. After receiving a message from his friend, Lord Carnarvon, about the discovery of the tomb of the Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, he went to Luxor. He examined all the objects found at the king's burial place in detail, accompanied by Carter himself. On the evening of the same day, J-Gold died without regaining consciousness. In the press, doctors announced a diagnosis: bubonic plague...

Video about the pharaoh of Ancient Egypt Tutankhamen. The Curse of the Valley of the Kings.

Particularly exciting is the impeccable art of mummification, which was mastered by admirers of the cult of the sacred Amon Ra. The ancient Egyptians were radically different from other peoples in their worship of death and its elevation to a cult. Archaeologists constantly find new burial sites of mummies and try to study them using computer equipment, because fragile remains turn to dust from contact with the sun's rays. Although no matter how much research is carried out, the mysteries of antiquity become more and more numerous.

Preparing for the afterlife

According to the laws of modernity, people try to live here and now, to take only the best for themselves. For the ancient Egyptians, all life was considered preparation for the main sacrament - death. Even weddings were not celebrated as grandly as funerals. The better the mummification is carried out, the more complete the deceased will be able to appear before the gods. If earthly existence is only a moment, then to eternal life should be prepared with utmost care. The mummy had to be accompanied to the burial place with high-quality dishes, amulets, jewelry and figurines of gods. And so that the dead man would not forget his good deeds committed during his life, papyri were additionally placed in the funeral chamber, where all his good deeds were set out in detail. The walls of the chamber were also decorated with reliefs and paintings, although they were executed according to the strict rules of painting that existed in Egypt. A mask with wide open painted eyes, located in place of the mummy’s face, looked at all this splendor.

Mummification methods

Millennia succeeded each other, but under optimal conditions, the imperishable mummies of the pharaohs of Egypt and the nobility rested in huge tombs. Although even ordinary Egyptians could afford to preserve the remains with dignity. But only the priests reserved the honorable right to carry out embalming. This is associated with the legend of the god Anubis, who made a mummy from the body of the god Osiris to prepare him for eternal life in the afterlife.

The nobility paid for expensive mummification

Relatives of the deceased Egyptian turned to the embalmers, who offered a choice of one of the mummification methods based on the financial capabilities of the applicants. After completing the formalities, the priests began to work. Mummification in Ancient Egypt was an expensive pleasure. Therefore, the process took place differently for different segments of society.

How were Egyptian mummies made? First of all, the brain was removed with iron devices through the nostrils, and its remains were dissolved with special drugs that were injected into the skull. In Ancient Egypt, they did not know about the function of the brain, so they simply threw it away, although they tried to carefully preserve all other organs. After examining the left side of the deceased's abdomen, the chief scribe indicated the location for the incision. Using a sharp stone, the paraschist (or ripper) made an incision in the abdominal cavity in the designated area. One of the priests penetrated the cut with his hand to remove all the organs, while leaving the lungs and heart in place. It was believed that through the food organs contamination of the flesh, and subsequently the human soul, occurs. The removed entrails were washed with balsam and palm wine. The organs were under no circumstances thrown away, but were carefully immersed in vessels filled with special balms. Such vessels were called canopies; each mummy had four of them. The heads of the sons of Horus were depicted on the lids of the vessels.

Secrets of embalming

It was time for embalming. After washing the internal cavities of the deceased with wine, they carefully rubbed the inside with cinnamon, cedar oil, myrrh and similar embalming agents. Linen bandages were soaked in special balms, which were used to tampon the body inside and wrap it around the outside. A little later, embalmers learned to fill mummies with aromatic herbs infused with oils. After some time, the remaining oil was drained and the body began to dry to remove the liquid and avoid rotting. Drying lasted about 40 days. Now the priests filled the womb with incense and sewed up the hole, and the mummy was immersed in a concentrated solution of soda lye for 70 days. At the end of the period, the body was washed to begin the final process. They cut fine linen into long strips and wrapped it around the deceased, and the strips were fastened together with gum.

The desire for an afterlife among poor Egyptians

The poor could not afford to pay for such a labor-intensive process, so they agreed to cheaper mummification. In Ancient Egypt, cedar oil was injected into the abdominal cavity of the deceased, without making an incision to remove the entrails. After this procedure, the dead person was lowered into the lye for several days. After time, the infused oil, which has the property of dissolving the insides, was drained from the intestines. Soda lye is known to decompose meat, so subsequently the relatives of the deceased received a dried mummy consisting only of bones and skin. Although the poorest Egyptians could use an even cheaper method. It consisted of injecting radish juice into the abdominal cavity of the deceased and immersing the body in a solution of soda lye for 70 days.

The ruler in the afterlife has untold riches

In Ancient Egypt, they religiously adhered to traditions. It was believed that nobles after death should continue to live among their acquired wealth. A warrior will not be able to hunt after burial if he loses his weapon. Pharaoh will not take what is due to his person high place among the gods, if he appears at the court of Osiris without a supply of jewelry, delicious food and many golden figurines. Therefore, untold riches were stored in the tombs, and “black” archaeologists sought to find a secret passage to them.

To build impenetrable tombs, they came up with various traps and reliable locks that could be opened with special amulets. But all the efforts of the ancient rulers to preserve the treasures of the tombs were not crowned with success. Under the influence of human greed, many tombs were stolen, and spells and magic did not stop those who wanted to profit from the objects of ancient civilization.

Artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb

Only the tomb of the nineteen-year-old Pharaoh Tutankhamun, who reigned in 1332-1323 BC, has survived to this day almost completely intact. e. Its discoverers are two archeological enthusiasts, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, who revealed to the world the extraordinary luxury of the ancient tomb.

For several years, archaeologists tried to find the burial place of the young pharaoh, and finally, in 1923, luck smiled at them. Crowds of onlookers and journalists flocked to the small town of Luxor to convey essays and reports to all lovers of antiquity. The archaeologists carefully moved along the steps deeper into the hole in the rock, and ahead they saw a walled wall, behind which was the entrance to the tomb. After the passage was cleared, they moved along the corridor, but they had to spend some more time clearing the passage from the rubble. Time passed, and finally, again, scientists had to dismantle another walled up entrance. Carter's heart began to beat dully in his chest as he stuck his hand with the candle into the hole in the masonry. A warm stream of air escaped from the burial chamber, causing the candle flame to flutter in the draft. In the twilight, the outlines of the room gradually appeared, and the outlines of figurines of animals and statues made of gold, flickering in the dim light, were revealed to the eye.

Golden Splendor

Archaeologists experienced a real shock when they were able to enter the first room of the tomb. The pharaoh was equipped for his afterlife journey with stunning pomp, although they did not have time to build a more spacious tomb for him. Here were magnificent beds, decorated with gold plates, richly inlaid with gems and ivory chairs, vessels, shooting gloves, arrow quivers, clothing and jewelry. Vessels with remains of food and dried wine were also preserved. In stone vessels, researchers discovered expensive incense that had preserved strong aroma. Even after death, the royal person had to lead a full existence, continuing to anoint his body with fragrant substances.

As a sign of special respect for the deceased, their bodies were decorated with wreaths of seasonal flowers. It was in the tomb of Tutankhamun that scientists discovered a wreath of flowers that turned to dust when touched. A few leaves remained; they were dipped into lukewarm water to avoid destruction. After analysis, we were able to find out about the month of burial of the pharaoh - from mid-March to the end of April. In Egypt, at this time, cornflowers bloom and nightshade and mandrake, which served to make a wreath, ripen.

To move the pharaoh through the afterlife, several golden chariots were installed in the chamber. The first room was followed by a second, containing an equally large supply of precious objects.

Tutankhamun's mummy

Several arks were discovered in the burial chambers, stacked one inside the other like a nesting doll. It was necessary to open the sarcophagi to get to the royal mummy. The remains were in the coffin, but they were so filled with aromatic oils that they were firmly stuck to it. A golden mask covered the face and shoulders; it completely repeated the lifetime features of the young pharaoh. They also tried to remove the mask, although it was attached to the coffin under the influence of the resin. To make the pharaoh's coffin, a gold sheet up to 3.5 mm thick was used. During burial, the mummy of the Egyptian pharaoh was wrapped in several shrouds, and hands with a whip and a staff were sewn onto the topmost shroud. After the mummies were unwrapped, many more jewels were found, the description of which amounted to 101 groups.

A curse or a series of coincidences?

After the grand opening of Tutankhamun's tomb, a series of unexpected deaths of members of the expedition shook the public. A year later, Lord Carnarvon dies of pneumonia in a Cairo hotel. His death immediately became overgrown with unimaginable details and fantastic guesses. Some say a mosquito bite caused the death, while others say a razor wound caused blood poisoning. One way or another, for the next few years the concept of the “curse of the pharaohs” was discussed in the press. One after another, 22 members of the expedition, who were the first to arrive at the threshold of the famous tomb, suddenly died. English newspapermen fanned the sensation, and the public was not interested in any reasonable explanations.

Unenviable fate

Only the mummies of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt have survived to this day in fairly good condition. After all, the fate of the remains of the poor Egyptians remained unenviable. During the Middle Ages, there were many recipes for healing potions made from ground mummies. There was also some barbarism: in the 19th century, the bandages of the ancient dead began to be used as paper, and the mummies themselves became fuel. But the remains of royalty remained almost untouched to become silent witnesses to the former greatness of Ancient Egypt.

Preserved mummies of the pharaohs

One of the greatest conquerors was Pharaoh Seti I. His reign dates back to the era of the 19th dynasty. The great pharaoh pursued a tough policy and strengthened the borders of the kingdom to the territory where Syria is now located. He ruled wisely for 11 years, leaving a strong Egypt for his successor, Ramses II.

The European press was shocked by the discovery of the grave of Seti I in 1817. Now the mummy of Seti 1 is on display in the hall of the Cairo Egyptian Museum.

Diagnosing the diseases of an ancient ruler

The legendary pharaoh of antiquity was Ramses II. He lived to an old age and ruled Egypt for an estimated 67 years. His mummy was discovered in a cache among the rocks by scientists G. Maspero and E. Brugsch in 1881. In the Cairo Museum you can see the mummy of Ramses II. In 1974, museum staff sounded the alarm due to the destruction of the mummy. It was decided to urgently send her for a medical examination to Paris. I had to take care of an Egyptian passport for the dead king in order to cross the borders between states. During the research, Ramses was found to have wounds and fractures, as well as arthritis. After processing, the mummy was returned to the museum to preserve its greatness for future generations.

In order to prolong life after death, it was important to take care of the construction of a special tomb for the body: the Egyptians believed that it was most convenient for an immortal but fragile soul to return to its former and henceforth also eternal body inside a powerful and protected from prying eyes tomb, which was modified depending on the time, partly the place and mainly depending on the social status of the deceased.

For the time of the Early and Old Kingdoms, a high development of the cult of the dead, but not all the dead, was established - mainly kings and court nobility (first in Thinis, then in Memphis), and sometimes even local nobility (far from Memphis). The tombs of the pharaohs were the Egyptian pyramids. They were erected solely to serve as the last refuge for the deceased pharaoh.

Architecture of the tombs

The Egyptian pyramids (meaning the so-called great pyramids at Giza) in ancient times were rightfully considered one of the seven wonders of the world. It should be emphasized that the “great pyramids” at Giza are far from the only pyramids in Egypt; there are many more of them.

The “Great Pyramids” at Giza - there are three of them - were built by the pharaohs of the 4th dynasty. The largest pyramid is Khufu (Greek: Cheops), followed by the pyramid of Khafre (Greek: Khafre), then the pyramid of Menkaure (Greek: Mycerinus).

In each of the “large pyramids” there are passages leading from below to the chamber where the sarcophagus with the king’s mummy rested. The location of these passages and burial chambers is different. From an architectural point of view, pyramids are the highest manifestation of mastery in the art of stonemasonry. No inscriptions, sculptures or images have been found inside the “great pyramids” of Giza. Empty stone sarcophagi were found in all three pyramids.

Sarcophagi were also found in a number of other pyramids. The oldest pyramid known to us is the so-called step pyramid of the founder of the III dynasty Djoser (first half of the III millennium BC), the latest is the pyramid of the pharaoh XIII dynasty Khendzher (XVIII century BC). Thus, royal tombs in the form of pyramids were built during the Old and Middle Kingdoms in territories of a more or less flat nature. Particular attention should be paid to the pyramids of the V and VI dynasties. They are remarkable in that funeral magical texts are inscribed on the walls of their interiors, the main and only purpose of which was to ensure eternal, happy life to Pharaoh after his earthly death. These are the so-called “Pyramid Texts” (written in hieroglyphs painted green).

Each pyramid necessarily had its own temple, in which specially appointed priests served the funeral service for the pharaoh buried in the pyramid. Each pyramidal mortuary complex had its own name.

The question of the so-called royal cenotaphs from the time of the Old Kingdom has not yet been resolved. How can we explain that the founder of the IV dynasty, Pharaoh Snofru, built himself three pyramids? Based on some data, it can be considered firmly established that for a number of kings of the Old Kingdom, structures were erected that, at first glance, were no different from tombs, but were not intended for actual burial, but only for performing certain ritual actions, that is, false tombs - cenotaphs. N.M. Postovskaya explains this by its connection with the Heb-Sed holiday, i.e. Happy royal 30th anniversary.

During the Old Kingdom, the nobility built tombs for themselves near the tomb of their ruler - surrounding him during his life, this nobility sought to be close to him even after death. Thus, near the pyramids in Giza, large necropolises were formed - cemeteries of dignitaries and nobles. In science, these tombs are known as mastaba (Arabic for “bench”). This “bench” was a brick superstructure over a burial site hidden beneath the surface of the earth. The superstructure was sometimes built from limestone slabs and had the shape of a rectangle, the walls of which in the upper part were inclined inward. From above this rectangle was completely flat. It was this that the Arabs of Egypt called the “bench.” Under this superstructure, underground, there was a burial chamber with a sarcophagus. A vertical shaft with a depth of three to thirty meters led into the chamber from above - the entrance. In the part of the superstructure facing east, in a very shallow niche, a “false door” was built - supposedly the entrance to the mastaba.

In this niche there was a special flat altar, on which the relatives of the deceased placed offerings and before which they read funeral prayers. This “eternal home” of the deceased could have different sizes - depending on social status the dead and the king's disposition towards them and their loved ones. Sculptural portraits of the deceased were kept in the serdab (special room), i.e. substitutes for the mummy of the deceased in case of its destruction or damage. It is from these serdabs that the remarkable sculptural portraits come, which are one of the treasures of the Cairo Museum. Serdab was connected to other rooms of the tomb only by a small window.

A trip to Egypt is an excellent opportunity to combine beach holiday with sightseeing. Valley of the Pharaohs is a place that every visitor to Egypt should visit. It is there that the world-famous tombs of the ancient rulers of Egypt - Tutankhamun and Nefertiti - are located. Several thousand people visit these monuments every day, because the pyramids are considered a symbol of Egypt.

For many centuries, the pyramids have attracted the attention of travelers, tourists, robbers, and now tourists.

The pharaohs of Ancient Egypt built tombs for themselves during their lifetime. The Egyptians believed that only if the body of the deceased was preserved could his spirit live after death. To do this, they mummified the bodies: they removed internal organs, filling the cavity with salts and wrapping the body in linen shrouds. The mummy was buried along with jewelry, clothing, food and other utensils.

Tombs of the Pharaohs were placed inside pyramids towering above everything on earth.

The first pyramid reached 60 meters and was built by Pharaoh Djoser. It consisted of six huge steps, proportionally decreasing towards the top. The Pyramid of Djoser was part of a complex with an area of ​​1500 square meters. meters, which also included a huge number of altars, temples and tombs of the king’s relatives and nobles.

Not only were the great pyramids the tomb of the pharaoh - they were also the burial places of the greatest treasures that the rulers prepared for the future afterlife.

This is what attracted many robbers to the pyramids. Already four thousand years ago, specialists appeared in robbing pyramids, which had an excellent defense system and all sorts of traps and labyrinths, in which many of the attackers remained forever. However, the passion for enrichment was higher than the fear of mortal punishment and the honor of resting in the tomb of the pharaoh himself; many penetrations were successful. Therefore, most of the treasures hidden in the pyramids have not reached our time. Only a few tombs have remained untouched to this day.

In 1922 it was opened Tutankhamun's tomb. This was the only tomb Valley of the Kings, found almost in its original form.

It was simply overflowing with jewelry and gold. This is what played main role that a historically insignificant pharaoh has become today one of the most famous figures of Ancient Egypt. Even the archaeologist Howard Carter, who discovered his tomb, said that "The only event in Tutankhamun's life was his death and burial."

In the first room there were armchairs covered with the most skillful tiny inserts of gems, gold, silver and Ivory; beds upholstered in gold; golden chariots, bows, shooting gloves and a quiver of arrows; magnificent caskets with royal clothes and jewelry; beautiful stone vessels. There were also boxes of food and vessels with long-dried wine.

The following rooms also contained amazing works of ancient Egyptian art.

The pharaoh's mummy was discovered intact and enclosed in three sarcophagi. The first sarcophagus was made of gilded wood, the second was the same, but also interspersed with shiny glass, and the third was made of solid gold.

The sarcophagus reaches a height of almost two meters, its weight is two hundred kilograms of pure gold.

- a masterpiece of world jewelry, inlaid with turquoise, lapis lazuli and carnelian.

In the middle of the sarcophagus lay a small wreath of dried flowers - apparently placed by the wife of the young pharaoh.

Tutankhamun's mummy was removed from the sarcophagus and examined in detail by medical scientists, who established what the pharaoh looked like during life. His height was no more than 168 centimeters. The skull was wide, with an elongated crown and a pulled back occipital part, which is characteristic of all members of his family. At the time of his death, Tutankhamun was between 18 and 20 years old.

X-rays taken about thirty years ago spoke of a sensation: a hole was clearly visible at the very base of the pharaoh’s skull. There were suggestions that Tutankhamun died from a blow to the head. But in 2005, Egyptian scientists conducted CT scan, which refuted these suspicions and proved that the young pharaoh died from an untreated fracture of the leg complicated by an infection.

Recently, Italian scientists put forward a third hypothesis, suggesting that Tutankhamun died from blood poisoning, which developed after a knee injury from a sword strike.

Magnificent, made of wood, richly decorated with inlays of stones, glass, multi-colored faience and trimmed with cast gold. The legs of the throne are made in the shape of lion paws, the arms are winged snakes coiled into a ring.

On the back of the throne there is a relief of water birds and papyrus. And in front there is an inlaid image of the pharaoh and his wife.

Currently, the treasures of Tutankhamun found in his tomb are exhibited in Cairo in the Egyptian Museum. The area they occupy is equal to a football field and consists of ten halls.

Curse of the Tombs

Back in the 19th century, when deciphering ancient Egyptian texts, Europeans learned that the ancient Egyptians cast special spells on tombs. They remembered this only after the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb...

At the door of the royal tomb stood two statues of black guards with gilded heads. By all indications, someone had already been in the tomb, the treasures had been turned over, but, probably, nothing had been taken outside the pyramid. What happened to the robbers, and whether there were robbers there, remains a mystery, because not a thousand years have passed since this penetration.

After Carter opened the tomb, a series of deaths occurred. Just a few months later, one of the leaders of the search for the tomb, Carnarvon, dies. His brother, friends, and nurse follow him to the next world. Twenty-one victims are linked specifically to curse of Tutankhamun's tomb.

In the late 50s, it was suggested that the cause of these deaths was the histoplasmosis virus, which was found in the droppings of bats, which would have had no problem getting into the tomb through the gaps left by ancient robbers. But this assumption was rejected, since the first hole was centuries old and was filled up at about the same time.

There were also known earlier cases of pharaonic revenge.

• A doctor for the East India Company, he stole two mummies from Thebes in 1805. Lost my mind within a year.
• Swede F. Lidman, during his travels in Egypt, collected a large collection of items looted from tombs. The collection burned before being sent home.
• Russian researcher V.P. Krasovsky participated in the excavations of the pyramid. All the Egyptian workers who helped him died. His colleague, the Englishman Cockroft, died in a car accident. And Krasovsky himself died in 1914, describing before his death how he was tormented by the “soul” of the pyramid he had desecrated.
  The assumptions regarding the death of Krasovsky and the workers were as follows: radiation sickness, which developed due to the fact that the pyramid turned out to be made of radioactive granite. Perhaps Cockroft's car accident simply preceded his inevitable imminent death from radiation sickness.
• The last known victim of the “curse of the pharaohs” is considered to be the Egyptian archaeologist M.Z. Goneim, who in 1952-54 opened and examined the pyramid of Pharaoh Sekhemkhet, the heir and son of Djoser, the first builder of the pyramids. While clearing an underground passage, one of the stone blocks of the ceiling collapsed, burying a worker. And in 19957, Goneim himself died tragically.

And how many cases unknown to us have occurred with ordinary robbers who enter tombs at their own peril and risk!

But from generation to generation, rules about the sanctity of burial places are passed on. And in the countries of the East, any rich burial was especially protected from desecration...

Modern realities of ancient Egyptian tombs

Who doesn’t want to get in touch with centuries-old history! But the exhibits themselves are in danger of destruction. Breath huge amount people, along with poor ventilation, causes damage to priceless frescoes, decorations and decor in the tombs. Humidity and fungus gradually corrode the walls of the tombs themselves.

The current Egyptian Antiquities Authority, although belatedly, is beginning to install new ventilation systems. The time for visiting the pyramids is limited. Some tombs are closed from tours. These forced measures should lead to an improvement in the condition and microclimate of the tombs.

There is no need to examine the tombs one by one - they are very similar both in architecture and design.

The Great Pyramid of Cheops in Giza is closed to visitors, as well as the tomb of Nefertari, the wife of Ramesses II, famous for its luxuriously beautiful wall paintings, and some other monuments.

The tomb of Horemheb, built in Egyptian Valley of the Kings. High humidity and temperature threatened the tomb's priceless frescoes and required appropriate protective measures.

Lilia Yurkanis
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