In 1922, British archeologist Howard Carter (1874–1939) discovered the previously unopened tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankamun, known popularly as “King Tut.” He informed his benefactor Lord Carnavon (George Herbert, 1866–1923), who set off from England to join Carter in opening the tomb. Carter claimed a tablet over the tomb said “Death will slay with his wings whomever disturbs the Pharaoah’s peace.” However, the tablet has never been found or seen by anyone else and it is believed by some that this was a ruse by Carter to keep people away from the tomb.

At 1:55 a.m., just few months after opening the tomb, the lights in Cairo went out and Lord Carnavon was found dead. He had cut his face shaving over an infected mosquito bite leading to blood poisoning and pneumonia. Was it the curse taking its first toll?

Within seven years, 13 people at the opening of the tomb were prematurely dead, although all by natural means. Another nine associated with the finding had also died. Carter died of natural causes at the age of 65, a skeptic of the supposed curse.