During an interview with Express.co.uk, renowned archaeologist Dr Zahi Hawass shared an exciting discovery he made involving a secret prayer penned by Howard Carter on Tutankhamun’s grave. Tutankhamun, also known as “the boy king,” was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the New Kingdom period as the last of his royal family in the 19th Dynasty. Ascending to the throne at the tender age of nine, he met a mysterious demise less than a decade later, sparking speculation of foul play. In 1922, Carter unearthed Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, where he famously exclaimed to Lord Carnarvon, his sponsor, about the “wonderful things” he had encountered.
The famous Egyptologist Dr. Hawass reported to Express.co.uk that there was a particular item that caught Mr. Carter’s attention. He was so impressed by it that he even had the inscription added to his own tomb.
He mentioned that his most cherished possession is the wishing cup, noting its beauty and the fact that it is crafted from alabaster. Interestingly, he added that this artifact was also favored by Howard Carter.
During my visit to his burial site, I came across an inscription on a cup that caught my attention. Dr. Zahi Hawass discusses how the cup bears a religious prayer that Howard Carter personally requested to be written on his grave. This discovery was made when Dr. Hawass visited the tomb last year. Another noteworthy find mentioned by Dr. Hawass is a delicate golden figure of a small head on a necklace, which he describes as beautiful. Referred to as the Lotus Chalice, this cup was among the initial discoveries made by Carter and his team upon entering the tomb.
The ship was positioned right at the doorway leading into the antechamber, where they made their entry on the floor. Inscribed on Carter’s tombstone was a message that read: “May your soul endure, may you experience countless years, you who cherish Thebes, sitting with your gaze towards the north wind, your sight filled with joy.”
The cup can be seen at the Saatchi Gallery in London as part of the latest exhibition, “Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh.” Over 150 artifacts have made the journey from Egypt and will be showcased until May 3, 2020. Dr. Hawass mentioned that all 150 items were placed in the tomb to assist the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and is sure to captivate the hearts of all visitors to the exhibit.
I do not personally believe in life after death, but the ancient Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife was crucial in the construction of Egypt. This belief motivated them to build pyramids, tombs, and unique artifacts to secure their place in the afterlife, ultimately shaping the great civilization of Egypt.
Recently, a collection of 60 items from Egypt has traveled abroad for the first time, before returning to their designated home in the upcoming Grand Egyptian Museum. The exhibition, which just concluded in Paris, broke records as France’s most visited exhibition ever, drawing over 1.4 million visitors.
Dr. Tarek Al Awady, the exhibition’s curator, shared the extensive preparations that went into organizing the exhibit. He emphasized the excitement of sharing King Tutankhamun’s treasures worldwide, while also stressing the team’s responsibility in handling and transporting the 150 valuable artifacts.
Regarding the superstition of a curse surrounding the items, Dr. Awady dismissed such claims. He pointed out that the treasures were initially described as “wonderful things” by Howard Carter, and any subsequent incidents were misconstrued as evidence of a curse. In Dr. Awady’s 25 years of working with Tutankhamun’s treasures, he has never witnessed any malevolent occurrences, as the team prioritizes the preservation and safekeeping of these historical treasures for future generations.
