King Tut’s Curse and the “Truth” about Ancient Egypt

Explore the power struggle between scientific and sensational interpretations of Ancient Egypt in this talk presented by anthropologist and Egyptologist Dr Jasmine Day.

Who owns the “truth” about the past? Today’s power struggle between scientific and sensational interpretations of ancient Egypt began with the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb a century ago. In recently rediscovered private letters, psychics and tabloid journalists challenged Howard Carter’s authority with dire warnings about the supernatural vengeance that awaited him. The invention of “King Tut’s Curse” reveals the eccentric personalities and toxic rivalries that gave birth to a legend.

A Dr Jasmine Day, anthropologist and Egyptologist, is an expert on mummymania, mummy ethics and Egyptian Revival jewellery, and the author of The Mummy’s Curse: Mummymania in the English-speaking World. She appeared in TV’s Egypt’s Unexplained Files. Dr Day is President of The Ancient Egypt Society of Western Australia Inc.