The curse associated with Tutankhamun continues to concern Egyptologists and historians since the discovery of the boy pharaoh’s tomb in 1922. Over 20 people have disappeared since its opening, including the first explorer of the tomb, Howard Carter. There are many theories about the reasons for these unexplained deaths, and one of them was shared by Professor Robert Temple.
Temple’s Theory of Radiation
Temple, like many of his colleagues, claims that a high level of radiation was found in the tomb. Similar phenomena have also been recorded in other ancient tombs, including places in Giza and the tomb of Osiris.
In his research, published in a scientific journal, it is noted that «strong radiation was associated with two stone chests, especially from the inside.»
According to Professor Temple, these chests were made of basalt. It was determined that they «were a source of radiation, different from the normal traces of natural radiation (radon) from the surrounding limestone rock.» Radon gas is an intermediate product of uranium decay with a half-life of 3.8 days.
Other studies conducted measurements of radon levels in various locations of ancient tombs, such as Saqqara, and found its presence in various places, including the southern tomb and storerooms of the Djoser’s pyramid.
In the 1960s, thousands of pots were discovered under the Step Pyramid, containing up to 200 tons of unidentified substances, confirming the version that toxins could have been buried together with the mummified remains.
