Who Was King Tut

Even though the successful discovery of King Tut’s tomb is a foregone conclusion, Edwards plays to her young readers by reimagining the moment of discovery in detail, thereby adding tension and suspense to her explanation of the various stages of Carter’s dig. She also imbues the discovery of the staircase and door with a pointed sense of excitement and anticipation, emphasizing the eagerness of an archaeologist who is finally realizing a long-held goal. Her descriptions highlight the realities of such an arduous task, especially when she explains that Carter was forced to wait two weeks for Lord Carnarvon to arrive before he could finally look inside the tomb. In this example, she utilizes a child’s understanding of the impatience that accompanies much-anticipated events and applies this emotion to a historical discovery in order to make it more relevant to her young readers. These stylistic choices are evident in her wording, for the phrase “at last” emphasizes Carter’s impatience as the narrative states, “At last Lord Carnarvon arrived. His daughter came, too. And Howard Carter was about to learn what was on the other side of the door” (53).

Additionally, Edwards conveys Carter’s anticipation and excitement when he finally beholds an almost magical and otherworldly sight, and the moment-by-moment depiction captures this emotion:

At first I could see nothing . . . but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues and gold—everywhere the glint of gold. […] I was struck dumb with amazement. (55)

The grandeur of King Tut’s tomb reflects The Ancient Egyptian Belief in the Afterlife, for the space contained all that he might have been expected to require in the afterlife. In addition to containing all the trappings required for the decadent hobbies of a king, the tomb’s inclusion of practical items emphasizes ancient Egyptian individuals’ expectation of being resurrected and having the same needs in the afterlife that they once had on earth. As Edwards states, “One box was for the king’s shaving equipment. Other boxes contained meat for Tut to eat” (56). By describing the full array of riches and practical items, Edwards once again creates an image of Ancient Egypt as a Complex, Thriving Civilization, for the plentiful gold items portray the nation’s great wealth, while the exotic array of stuffed animals indicate that Egypt traded with many different parts of Africa.

Significantly, Edwards contrasts Carter’s reverent and respectful entry into King Tut’s tomb with the invasive and disrespectful invasions of tomb robbers and souvenir hunters such as Giovanni Belzoni, who irreverently sold mummies to rich Europeans. Similarly, the invasion of ancient tomb robbers into King Tut’s tomb is conveyed in the “two overturned chariots” (56), indicating that tomb robbing also occurred long before Europeans entered the game. However, Carter refrains from causing damage to the archaeological site and handles King Tut’s preserved body very delicately. Edwards’s descriptions dramatize this approach when she states that Carter “carefully peeled away strips of cloth” and came “face-to-face with Tut” (59). This description humanizes the deceased pharaoh and creates the impression that he and Carter are meeting one another. Thus, Edwards frames Carter’s entry as permissible and respectful, even though modern-day archaeological procedures would have forbidden his choice to open the deceased king’s sarcophagus and unwrap the mummified face.

Ultimately, Edwards characterizes Carter’s entry into the tomb as far superior to that of outright tomb robbers, and she lists his choice to send the treasures to a museum in Cairo as proof of his good intentions. Her characterization is further strengthened by the fact that Carter leaves King Tut’s body “in the royal burial chamber, right where it belonged” (60) and she emphasizes the importance of leaving the long-dead pharaoh “in peace” (60).