HISTORY This Week

Episode: King Tut’s Tomb and the Battle for Egypt’s Past

Date: December 29, 2025
Host: Sally Helm
Guests: Professor Christina Riggs, Heba Abd El Ghawed

Episode Overview

This engrossing episode explores the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in the early 1920s—a finding that not only electrified the world with golden wonders but also ignited fierce debates about the ownership and interpretation of Egypt’s past during the country’s fight for independence from British colonial rule. Host Sally Helm, joined by experts Professor Christina Riggs and Heba Abd El Ghawed, unpacks both the archaeological drama and the often-overlooked story of Egyptians’ reclaiming their heritage amid political upheaval.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Unearthing the Tomb

• Setting the Scene (03:19 - 05:38):
  The discovery in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, a climax after three thousand years undisturbed, unfolded under the leadership of the British archaeologist Howard Carter and his patron Lord Carnarvon.
• Howard Carter’s Path (07:54 - 10:16):
  Carter’s humble background and artistic skills are contrasted with Carnarvon’s aristocratic pedigree.
  • Quote (08:16, Professor Riggs): “He loves animals. He’s a good artist. His father was a talented professional artist of animals... Howard Carter helps his father with these commissions. That gets him into the room with people of wealth, AKA potential patrons.”
• Discovery Moment (12:03 - 15:05):
  The fateful scrape of a trowel against stone signals the start of a global sensation. Carter’s legendary line:
  • Quote (15:00, Carter recollection): “I replied, yes, I see wonderful things.”

2. The Global Tut Mania & Media Controversy

• Tut Fever (17:32 - 19:25):
  The world is swept up in fascination—newsreels, jazz songs, fashion, and even “King Tut lemons.”
  • Photographer Harry Burton’s images make the treasures instantly iconic.
• Exclusion of Egyptian Press (17:32 - 19:12):
  The exclusive rights sold to The London Times spark dismay among Egyptians, raising questions of narrative ownership.
  • Quote (19:12, Heba Abd El Ghawed): “Not in the sense of physical ownership, but sentimental, emotional and symbolic ownership of this heritage...most importantly, the ownership of the narrative. Who should tell the story of Tutankhamun?”

3. Egyptian Identity & Colonial Tensions

• National Pride and Outrage (20:14 - 21:25):
  The find fuels pride but also anger over foreign domination.
  • Quote (21:05, Heba Abd El Ghawed): “This became like the national anthem at the time, to celebrate not only the discovery, but...to celebrate this defining moment of reframing and reinventing Egyptian identity.”
• Dilemmas of Artifact Ownership (21:40 - 22:52):
  Traditionally 50% of finds went to the foreign excavator, but Tut’s tomb triggers calls to keep everything in Egypt.

4. Political Battle and the “Curse”

• Lord Carnarvon’s Death and the Western Idea of the Curse (24:10 - 25:22):
  Carnarvon’s unexpected death fuels the “mummy’s curse” myth, a concept foreign to Egyptian culture.

  • Quote (24:31, Heba Abd El Ghawed): “This does not exist in our culture whatsoever, this conception of the walking dead and zombies... the dead deserve respect.”
  • Quote (25:08, Prof. Riggs): “I think there’s a certain unconscious kind of idea that the dead do come back. If you invade a grave, right? If you invade a country, there is a reaction to that.”

• Egyptian Independence and Changing Power Dynamics (29:20 - 32:21):
  Egypt’s independence (1922) alters the landscape.

  • Carter, used to old arrangements, is shocked as Egyptians demand full ownership and control.
  • Carter strikes, tomb locks are changed, and the government stands firm.

5. Resolution and Legacy

• New Agreement, All Artifacts Remain in Egypt (32:21 - 33:19):
  After conflict and negotiation, it’s agreed that everything from the tomb stays in Egypt—a turning point in international archaeology and cultural heritage.
• The Unveiling of Tut’s Mask (33:19 - 34:06):
  The world is entranced by the golden mask, but the young pharaoh himself remains an enigma.
  • Quote (33:40, Prof. Riggs/Abd El Ghawed): “It’s this mix of something that looks so intimate but equally so lavish and so luxurious that...can captivate you and capture people’s fascination.”
• Tutankhamun as a Symbol (34:34 - 35:46):
  Tut’s role as a post-unrest king is mirrored in his function as a unifying symbol during Egypt’s 20th-century reinvention.

6. Modern Touring of the Treasures and Lasting Lessons

• The Treasures on Tour (36:23 - 37:43):
  The global exhibition of the treasures in the 1960s–70s builds bridges, particularly with the U.S.—but these are not just art events but diplomatic gestures.
• A Broader View of Egypt (38:41 - 39:07):
  Heba Abd El Ghawed urges listeners to look beyond the gold and pharaohs.
  • Quote (38:41, Abd El Ghawed): “Egypt is not only about gold, it’s not only about pharaohs. And there is more to Egypt than the so-called mummy curse. We should be fascinated by the ancient Egyptians, by the people, the ordinary Egyptians who made those objects.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I replied, yes, I see wonderful things.”
  — Howard Carter’s famous words at the moment of discovery (15:00)

• “Who should tell the story of Tutankhamun?”
  — Heba Abd El Ghawed on narrative ownership (19:12)

• “This became like the national anthem at the time, to celebrate not only the discovery, but...to equally celebrate this defining moment of reframing and reinventing Egyptian identity.”
  — Heba Abd El Ghawed (21:05)

• “It’s this mix of something that looks so intimate but equally so lavish and so luxurious that... can captivate you and capture people’s fascination.”
  — Prof. Riggs/Abd El Ghawed on the iconic mask (33:40)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |:-------------:|:-------------| | 03:19 | Setting up the burial and discovery of the tomb | | 07:54 | Background and pairing of Carter and Carnarvon | | 12:03 | Moment of tomb discovery | | 15:00 | Carter’s “wonderful things” quote | | 17:32 | Global Tut-mania and exclusion of Egyptian press | | 19:12 | Ownership and who tells Egypt’s story | | 21:05 | Nationalist songs and celebration after discovery | | 24:10 | Carnarvon’s death and “mummy’s curse” myth | | 29:20 | Egyptian independence and rewritten archaeology politics | | 32:21 | Resolution: all artifacts remain in Egypt | | 33:19 | World’s fascination with Tut’s mask | | 36:23 | Treasures’ international tour and diplomatic uses | | 38:41 | Looking beyond the gold to everyday Egyptians |

Conclusion

This episode of HISTORY This Week masterfully weaves the dazzling story of King Tutankhamun’s tomb with the intense political and cultural struggles for Egypt’s legacy and self-definition during the time of its independence. Through accessible storytelling and powerful expert commentary, listeners come away with a heightened appreciation not only for the treasures themselves but for the contested, dynamic history that decided their fate.