Simple Short Reports #4Simple Short Reports #4

Mummy’s curseMummy’s curse

Dr. Craig JacksonDr. Craig JacksonSenior Lecturer in Health PsychologySenior Lecturer in Health Psychology

School of Health and Policy StudiesFaculty of Health & Community Care

University of Central England

craig.jackson@uce.ac.ukcraig.jackson@uce.ac.uk

The Mummy’s CurseThe Mummy’s Curse

Examine survival of those exposed to the “mummy’s curse”Examine survival of those exposed to the “mummy’s curse”

Tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor, between 1923Tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor, between 1923 and 1926and 1926

Retrospective Cohort StudyRetrospective Cohort Study

44 Westerners present in Egypt at the specified dates 44 Westerners present in Egypt at the specified dates

25 potentially25 potentially exposed to theexposed to the cursecurse

Outcome measureOutcome measureLength of survival after exposureLength of survival after exposure

Nelson MR, 2002Nelson MR, 2002

The Mummy’s CurseThe Mummy’s Curse

Used Westerners recorded in Carter's writings as being in Egypt at the time Used Westerners recorded in Carter's writings as being in Egypt at the time but not recorded bybut not recorded by him as present at the site at the mentioned timeshim as present at the site at the mentioned times

Included only Western individuals in the analysisIncluded only Western individuals in the analysis

D.O.B and death identified by biographical texts, newspaper obituaries (the D.O.B and death identified by biographical texts, newspaper obituaries (the TimesTimes, , New York TimesNew York Times, , Le MondeLe Monde)) and a Google web based search (searched and a Google web based search (searched with keywordswith keywords archaeology, Egyptology, personal name, Egypt, archaeology, Egyptology, personal name, Egypt, Tutankhamun, andTutankhamun, and Tutankhamen)Tutankhamen)

Records divided into those who survived less than or greaterRecords divided into those who survived less than or greater than 10 yearsthan 10 years

Comparisons were then made by age, sex, and exposureComparisons were then made by age, sex, and exposure

Survival was analysed by “any” or “no” exposure and by number of Survival was analysed by “any” or “no” exposure and by number of exposuresexposures by logisticby logistic regression. regression.

The Mummy’s CurseThe Mummy’s Curse

Results: Results:

Group comparison of characteristics of people with data on mortality Group comparison of characteristics of people with data on mortality according to exposure to the mummy's curse. according to exposure to the mummy's curse.

ExposedExposed UnexposedUnexposed PPn=25n=25 n=11n=11

No (%) of menNo (%) of men 24 (96%)24 (96%) 7 (64%)7 (64%) <0.001<0.001

Age at classification (years)Age at classification (years) 49.3 (11.0)49.3 (11.0) 44.1 (9.1)44.1 (9.1) 0.250.25

Age at death (years)Age at death (years) 70.0 (12.4)70.0 (12.4) 75.0 (13.0)75.0 (13.0) 0.870.87

Survival (years)Survival (years) 20.8 (15.2)20.8 (15.2) 28.9 (13.6)28.9 (13.6) 0.950.95

The Mummy’s CurseThe Mummy’s Curse

Results: Results:

Female sex a significant predictor of survival (38 Female sex a significant predictor of survival (38 vv 21 years, P=0.017). 21 years, P=0.017).

Adjustment for age, sex, Adjustment for age, sex, exposure, and number of exposure, and number of times exposed did not confer times exposed did not confer additional risk foradditional risk for early death early death within 10 years. Odds ratio 1.38.within 10 years. Odds ratio 1.38.

Also no effect on Also no effect on survival timesurvival time for any exposure for any exposure or number ofor number of exposures. exposures.

The Mummy’s CurseThe Mummy’s Curse

Limitations:Limitations:

ExposedExposed people were more likely to be involved with the dig and thereforepeople were more likely to be involved with the dig and therefore be be mentioned in print, therefore easier to tracementioned in print, therefore easier to trace

Sex difference: spouses of professionals in theSex difference: spouses of professionals in the 1920s more likely to be 1920s more likely to be women and therefore over-representedwomen and therefore over-represented in the unexposed group. in the unexposed group.

““Exposure” may also beExposure” may also be questioned with the possibility of contamination of questioned with the possibility of contamination of the unexposedthe unexposed if the “curse” acted longer or more widely.if the “curse” acted longer or more widely.

The smallThe small numbers analysed, however, resulted in wide confidence intervals,numbers analysed, however, resulted in wide confidence intervals,

and the study may have been underpowered to show a more subtleand the study may have been underpowered to show a more subtle adverseadverse

effect.effect.

The Mummy’s CurseThe Mummy’s Curse

Conclusions:Conclusions:

An Egyptian archaeological dig in the 1920sAn Egyptian archaeological dig in the 1920s was inhabited by interesting was inhabited by interesting characters and it was this and thecharacters and it was this and the circumstances of the archaeological find of circumstances of the archaeological find of the modern age thatthe modern age that has kept the myth of the mummy's curse in the public has kept the myth of the mummy's curse in the public eye. eye.

No evidence for its existence. No evidence for its existence.

Perhaps finally it, like the tragicPerhaps finally it, like the tragic boy king Tutankhamen, may be put toboy king Tutankhamen, may be put to rest.rest.

M.R. Nelson,2002M.R. Nelson,2002