Tutankhamun's tomb: unique photographs by Egyptologist Howard Carter

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Almost a century ago, Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which became a worldwide sensation. But only now the public has a chance to look at the unique photographs that were taken during the famous excavations.

The discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun became one of the most significant scientific events of the 20th century. The whole world was engulfed in real Egyptomania, newspapers and magazines tirelessly printed new details about the unique historical heritage.

The honor of being the first to direct the lens at the mysterious tomb fell to photographer Harry Burton, who took a total of 3400 pictures. And only almost a century later, in 2018, many of his previously unpublished works were shown at an exhibition at the University of Cambridge.

Professor Christina Riggs, having carefully studied both archived and published photographs, found many interesting facts on them. “As soon as we start thinking about the complex dependence of various historical factors relative to each other, it’s impossible to just look at the photo,” she jokes.

From time immemorial

Despite the fact that Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb in 1923, the first pictures of it were taken only a year later. By that time, excavators had already destroyed the wall that separated the first room from the burial chamber, into which Carter is peering in the picture.

Riggs notes that the photo is clearly staged: the mystical glow that pours on the scientist's face was in fact created by a special reflector installed in the doorway.

More than a hundred people worked on the excavations, from adult men to boys and girls. The photograph from May 1923 captures the hard work of transporting boxes of artifacts from the Valley of the Kings to the city of Luxor a good six kilometers under the scorching sun.

In order to accurately transport the valuable cargo, a small railroad was used. Its segments were laid directly on the sand, and when the road ended, part of the road was dismantled and laid as a continuation of the path. Carter said that in the sun the rails were so hot that it was impossible to touch them.

The most famous artifact of Ancient Egypt

In December 1925, Burton photographed Tutankhamun's golden mask inlaid with semi-precious stones and intricately carved glass inserts. He took over 20 shots trying to capture the best perspective. This opportunity did not come to him right away: before that, for several weeks Carter had removed the resin from the precious find, which had been poured onto the mummy in the course of a religious ritual.

Some of the photographs did not make it to public publications, as they were seized by archaeologists. The picture shows the mummified head of the pharaoh, propped up with a wooden brush for stability. By the way, photographs of the head of the "boy-king" were released only in the 1960s, when the first major TV show dedicated to Tutankhamun took place in Paris.

And this is one of the first photographs on a white background, which was rarely used by photographers before. The picture shows a wooden bed, and the white canvas itself is held by two Egyptian boys who accidentally got into the frame. According to Riggs, their task was not only to keep the background, but also to make it tremble.

As a result, the background turned out to be slightly blurred, while the center of the composition came out clear and therefore attracts attention.

Egyptomania and its fruits

“The opening of the pharaoh’s tomb became a powerful symbol of the rebirth of their homeland for many Egyptians, and therefore Egyptian museums insisted on their right to store artifacts on their territory,” explains Riggs. However, in 1929, when it became clear that the museums would not achieve their goal, it turned out that Burton's work was actually done for free.

As a result, Carter donated some of his photographs to the New York Museum. The archaeological discovery sparked a political conflict between Britain and the independent government of Egypt. Only a hundred years later, the archival photographs were released again, and today they can be enjoyed not only by scientists, but also by ordinary visitors to the museum.