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1571

The unbroken seal on King Tut's Tomb (imgur.com)

submitted ago by Sabird1

all 164 comments
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[–]Franco_DeMayo 34 points35 points ago

One of the greatest finds in archeological history, and that shit was tied shut like the busted hatch on a '91 Honda Civic.

[–]throw-this 155 points156 points ago

I'm guessing the hunk of clay on the right says something like, "Don't open this door, motherfuckers. Bad shit will happen to you."

[–]rawzone 53 points54 points ago

"Are you German..?"

[–]WendyLRogers3 37 points38 points ago

"Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia, King Tut."

[–]cabledawg 6 points7 points ago

Its ok Wendy, I appreciate your humor.

[–]Johnzsmith 0 points1 point ago

I have this on a 45 somewhere.

[–]daxattacks 8 points9 points ago

"This means you, Brandon Fraser!"

[–]kinguzumaki 2 points3 points ago

How did you know that!?

[–]BrizzleShawini 24 points25 points ago

Fascinating. I've never seen this before.

[–]tedtutors 29 points30 points ago

I have. Last time it was posted, I Canadian-proofed it.

[–]braunshaver 3 points4 points ago

Cool I saw that sign on 57 Charles. After a stranger let me in.

[–]iclimbrocks2 52 points53 points ago

Ah King Tut's Hymen.

[–]teasnorter 25 points26 points ago

Oh, you're so cursed now.

[–]WeldingMouse 1 point2 points ago

The Pharaoh wanted a massive diamond monument made as a testament to his rule, but he started with just the tip... Just to see how it felt.

[–]my_two_dads 15 points16 points ago

Just found my new lockscreen wallpaper. Thanks!

[–]GTCharged 1 point2 points ago

Pure genius.

[–]bjjpolo 35 points36 points ago

It looks like a hand grasping one handle of the tomb.

[–]gr00ve88 2 points3 points ago

yeah, its pretty awesome too.

[–]BlizzGamer 21 points22 points ago

King, king of what?

[–]Oiiack 27 points28 points ago

I didn't vote for'im!

[–]themarknessmonster 23 points24 points ago

You don't vote for kings.

[–]f3lbane 11 points12 points ago

Well how do you become king then?

[–]themarknessmonster 17 points18 points ago

The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur.

That is why I am your King!

[–]Integraholic 16 points17 points ago

Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!

[–]shadyk84 8 points9 points ago

Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

[–]full_of_stars 1 point2 points ago

BE QUIET!!!

[–]DeadxReckoning 1 point2 points ago

You can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]themarknessmonster 1 point2 points ago

BOO!

YOUR TROLLING IS BAD AND YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD!

[–]simiancanadian 53 points54 points ago

Imagine what we, or others in the future could have discovered with modern tech before they trampled all over that site. It's something i always think of when i see a archeological dig. A 4000 year old tomb can only be opened once!

[–]Prownilo 56 points57 points ago

Maybe that's why the Chinese haven't allowed the first emperors tomb to be unearthed yet.

[–]ryanEnigma 21 points22 points ago

Info for anyone:

First Emperors tomb is located under an earth mound near the Terra Cotta Army. Where it is said a replica of the land under rule from the Emperor was created. Streams and rivers filled with mercury along with recreations of palaces and other buildings. Also expected would be treasures to accompany the Emperor.

A study was conducted a few years ago which found high levels of mercury under the earth mound where the tomb would be located, making some believe there is a bit of truth to the story. I also think some Chinese scientists did either radar, x-ray or some sort of sensor to detect physical objects other than earth, but never heard the outcome of that.

Edit: My teacher also said that the night sky was said to of been painted on the roof with inlays of jade and various gems (I can't find documentation of that). It is believed all the men who worked on building the tomb were killed afterwards, which may not sound that bad but it is believed 700,000+ men worked on the tomb. Well killed may be the wrong word.. it is believed they were entombed. In the link below it even talks about booby traps in the tomb which my professor seemed to skip over, it was architectural history so... it's understood.

This is a pretty neat link

[–]BScatterplot 10 points11 points ago

Dang man you can't just blueball us with a story like that. That sounds awesome.

[–]rewindmad 5 points6 points ago

Im amazed to see that my random asian art history class in college actually has some relevance. Buy yeah, people believed the tomb was haunted for the longest time because grave robbers would die from the poisonous gasses that accumulated there. I'm pretty sure that now they're just keeping it closed out of respect and what not.

[–]nikchi 1 point2 points ago

Indiana Jones, go!

[–]urmomnom 36 points37 points ago

Or maybe it was opened thousands of years ago and simple resealed to keep the illusion alive

[–]Senor_Wilson 7 points8 points ago

No, this could never happen. :\

[–]Trashcanman33 27 points28 points ago

Then we should never do any kind of archaeological digs or exploration. Because there will always be better tools in the future.

[–]DaClems 21 points22 points ago

This seems to be a perfectly reasonable solution. Archaeologists, pack your shit and get out. Go out and get real jobs now. You should all work at Fossil in the mall.

[–]Prownilo 3 points4 points ago

I suppose there comes a time when a compromise is reached, maybe right now they just feel that archaeological techniques aren't up to scratch enough.

[–]essbeezee 14 points15 points ago

They made rope like that?

[–]chpinnlr 66 points67 points ago

THEY BUILT THE PYRAMIDS! Twisting fiberous plants into rope realy seems pretty easy compared to that!

[–]mista2kool 1 point2 points ago

Ya, but still...

[–]lvnshm 1 point2 points ago

Pounding motherfucking papyrus into paper sheets!

[–]thefightforgood 11 points12 points ago

I've made rope from hand before. It's actually not too hard to have it come out looking like you bought it at home depot.

[–]BScatterplot 1 point2 points ago

How does one make a rope from hands, exactly?

[–]klavin1 1 point2 points ago

First you have to train up on your google skills.

[–]BScatterplot 0 points1 point ago

"From hand" vs. "by hand"

[–]klavin1 1 point2 points ago

Sorry, poor english strikes again.

[–]StSomaa 8 points9 points ago

The ancient Egyptians were probably the first civilization to develop special tools to make rope.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope

[–]BecauseEricHasOne 0 points1 point ago

I'd post the picture, but everyone already knows what rational solution and crazy hair it'd be of.

[–]grandoiseau -2 points-1 points ago

Yes. They used Hemp ropes made of Cannabis fibers, just like all of the other civilizations. And we would too, if it wasn't for Nixon...

[–]CHACHI_BONGS 5 points6 points ago

I could totally open that thing, no problem.

[–]dougy109 49 points50 points ago

Translation of the hieroglyphics on the seal...

"Death shall come on swift wings to him that toucheth the tomb of Pharaoh.”

[–]notdiscovery 154 points155 points ago

I like how ancient Egyptian translates into a modern version of old English: Toucheth? Really?

Sorry, this is a little bit of a pet peeve of mine, especially around hieroglyphs and translation... if that seemed a little jerk-y, I didn't mean it to. But the myth of the Tomb's curse is a powerful one and easy to sensationalize.

In actuality it has his name written on it, and the seal of the Theban necropolis, a jackal over nine bound captives. The seal was likely meant to protect the dead and keep watch over them, which is the grain of truth that the curse come from. You can check out the seal here in detail.

Also, while I'm at it- and from what I can remember- His tomb was entered at least twice before, and looted. Carter was all disappointed when he first got in to the first chamber because of the signs of looting. Based on some of the inventories he found, he estimated about 60% of the jewelry had been looted by the time he got there. The looting was probably pretty soon after Tut's burial, as the seal (and the filling of the passageway) happened not that long after his death.

EDIT Okay, so I looked a little bit more closely at this. The seal I linked to isn't from Tut's actual burial chamber, it's from his Embalming Cache. Though the two seals look the same, I can't find a good source on OP`s pic, so I'm not sure which chamber it's actually from. It's possible that OP's pic is actually the seal from KV 54 (the Embalming chamber that his embalming remains were moved to after the looting) and not KV 62.

Still, the jackal image is the same.

EDIT 2 Found it! I think it's from the Second Shrine (of 4). It's not a great source, but it appears that it's from KV 62 and not from KV 54. And now my nerd brain will let me go to bed.

EDIT 3 Third Shrine. All credit to holofernes for the source.

[–]super1s 33 points34 points ago

and the researching a random reply prize goes to...

[–]holofernes 16 points17 points ago

It's not the seal from the Embalming Cache, but from the third shrine surrounding the sarcophagus. The outermost seal was missing when Carter came, but two others were intact.

This is a close-up pic of the seal. You can tell it's the same because the break is in the right place.

The little mark in the top right is Tut's nswt bity name (nb xpr.w ra), and we are told that the jackal and nine captives is a seal of the necropolis.

[–]notdiscovery 5 points6 points ago

Nice! this is a much better source. Well done! My brain thanks you for providing the context it so obsessively desires.

[–]penis_of_allah 3 points4 points ago

wow

[–]Morepork360 2 points3 points ago

God-damn. Quick, everyone give this man some Karma.

[–]northendtrooper 0 points1 point ago

I'm not much of a superstitious man but you couldn't pay me enough to open that bitch after reading that.

[–]excommunicated 1 point2 points ago

Then you're a superstitious man.

Also, it doesn't say that.

[–]scigs6 3 points4 points ago

Nope. Too many Indiana Jones films tells me to never open shit like this

[–]everydayfromwork 8 points9 points ago

I've never understood this picture because there are two frayed edges visible. Wouldn't the Egyptians have sealed both exposed ends with the clay seal?

[–]BlueJayAggie 93 points94 points ago

I'm a frayed knot.

[–]patio87 6 points7 points ago

Oh great, you're going to rope us all into a puns thread.

[–]kindley 6 points7 points ago

I'm gonna go ahead and tie up this pun thread before it gets out of control

[–]foxandthedeer 3 points4 points ago

Good. Now we can all bow out.

[–]anusdestroyer2 5 points6 points ago

Rope.

[–]fourteendollars 0 points1 point ago

I am so jealous.

[–]Subaquanaut 3 points4 points ago

There is no way to undo that knot without having to break the seal or the rope.

[–]urmomnom 1 point2 points ago

But remaking the seal wouldn't exactly be an impossible task.

[–]teasnorter 0 points1 point ago

Breaking in the chamber isn't hard at all. The point is the curse.

[–]peppyroni -1 points0 points ago

What about the rebar sticking out of the rock that it's tied to? How'd they do that?

[–]chpinnlr 5 points6 points ago

They Built the pyramids! Metallurgy was really very common there and the ancient Egyptians were artisans when it came to metal working!

[–]Diplodot 4 points5 points ago

I don't know why this is so hard for these people to grasp.

[–]urmomnom 0 points1 point ago

Well, there is just not real reason to believe this has never been opened considering most of their other tombs were raided. However since there are usually multiple entrances it may just never have been necessary to open.

[–]crabsmash 0 points1 point ago

It was, according to this:

http://www.touregypt.net/images/touregypt/tutrobbery6.jpg

Edit: found on this page,

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/tutrobbery.htm

[–]Norse_of_60 0 points1 point ago

Because they are in grade 6......for the third time.

[–]therealpdrake 0 points1 point ago

yes, but only bronze.

the iron age didn't start until sometime around 1400 b.c.

[–]chpinnlr 0 points1 point ago

They were pretty handy with gold and silver also.

[–]therealpdrake 0 points1 point ago

for royalty

:)

[–]chpinnlr 0 points1 point ago

and Copper was the most common metal for everyday use in ancient Egypt. Here is some more info on the common metals available to the ancient Egyptians. I love this stuff!

[–]therealpdrake 0 points1 point ago

i thought about it being copper (which is a major component in bronze), but it didn't look oxidized like copper would. i may be wrong, though.

[–]ozone_one 15 points16 points ago

That really doesn't look like 3000 year old rope...

[–]ndchristie 64 points65 points ago

rope gets eaten by wind and moisture. Not much of either in a desert tomb, and it was likely coated for longevity as well.

interesting note : seal was broken shortly after being photographed.

[–]cultured_banana_slug 28 points29 points ago

"Wow! Look at this amazing relic of a lost age! Okay, let's cut it, we've got shit to loot."

[–]AvidWikipedian 21 points22 points ago

Well, the inside had many more interesting and amazing relics of a lost age...

[–]urmomnom 4 points5 points ago

There is no reason to think this tomb seal was never broken. Any food could just bring rope and reseal it.

[–]coaxfun 25 points26 points ago

How exactly would you use food to reseal it?

[–]unmined 21 points22 points ago

Tupperware

[–]coaxfun 5 points6 points ago

touché...

[–]wack_the_mack 0 points1 point ago

Except King Tut's treasures were still intact. Almost every other tomb was rob by grave robbers. So the chances of this being open and resealed are very low.

[–]Piscator629 1 point2 points ago

If they were any good they would just have cut the rope.

[–]PiMaker 2 points3 points ago

I saw the traveling King Tut exhibit in Seattle not too long ago. It's really amazing to look at artifacts that are >3000 years old and see how well they're preserved.

[–]Pamander 2 points3 points ago

Does anyone have a picture of the seal broken?

[–]njloof 3 points4 points ago

Sheepshank?

[–]Remembear 1 point2 points ago

Is it real?

[–]ghostinseashell 3 points4 points ago

OP = turdburglar

[–]SlagTheSlig 4 points5 points ago

I'm scrolling through Pics and hit this. I'm thinking:

"What the hell kind of a Halloween costume is that? Oh."

[–]TheComebacKid 0 points1 point ago

reminds me of the mariners knot.

[–]urmomnom 1 point2 points ago

Can rope really last for thousands of years? Maybe because it's so dry there?

My first thought it that has been resealed.

[–]coaxfun 1 point2 points ago

According to the wiki page, the tomb was entered by grave robbers at least twice, so it's likely that this is either not the original seal, or was placed back together before this picture was taken.

[–]MrSelfdizstruct75 1 point2 points ago

You know that is downright badass.

[–]gnarledrose 1 point2 points ago

This is dying for /r/oldschoolcool.

[–]cbcfan 1 point2 points ago

Am I wrong or does it look like someone broke the seal on the left handle and just tied it up nice and tight when they were done visiting?

[–]soparamens 0 points1 point ago

Nice observation. It seems that we are looking to a fix that ancient guards/priests applied to the king's tomb, because someone tried to rob it before, but was caught in the act and the tomb's entrance was re-sealed and hid under rubble. That's why it was discovered nearly intact in modern times.

[–]Korbit 0 points1 point ago

The rope is wound multiple times around both handles. There is no way to remove the rope without removing the existing clay seal.

[–]rubber_necker 1 point2 points ago

Perfect lock screen pic.

[–]jermlai 1 point2 points ago

I thought the inscription just said "Made in China" or something

[–]LakeStClair 1 point2 points ago

Translation: "Jerry, stay the fuck out! I paid you that $20 back at the bar."

[–]Toosiers12 1 point2 points ago

This was a picture before they broke the seal and got into the tomb right?

[–]Onlysilverworks 0 points1 point ago

what do they expect to be in there? aside from his body. lots of gold and the like?

[–]eeninety 0 points1 point ago

..it would be a shame.. if.. some.. one... were.. to...........open........ it..............................

[–]DarlingDont -1 points0 points ago

Then how in the world did he get his dick stolen?

[–]kristanic013 -1 points0 points ago

Break it.

[–]fuzzybluelogic 1 point2 points ago

http://i.imgur.com/7i9bu.jpg

[–]DrTerrier 0 points1 point ago

Protecting the Funkyness of King Tuts tomb

[–]Demi-God94 0 points1 point ago

Am I the only one that when they look at this sees two fists connected by one are holding the closed?

[–]enlightening 0 points1 point ago

It is known as a fist knot.

[–]AgentDaedalus 0 points1 point ago

Is this what its like when you set your wifi to WEP?

[–]EvOllj 0 points1 point ago

wanst immune to fire so why bother making a stamp on it?

[–]CoolAndTheGangBang 1 point2 points ago

Does anybody else kind of wish they had left it sealed?

[–]damontoo 1 point2 points ago

FYI, all OP does is repost and copy the title. The account is probably semi-automated.

Run any of his link posts through Karmadecay and you'll see he's copied the post and the title. On all of them.

Anyone seeking more info might also check here:

title comnts points age /r/
King Tuts tomb before it was opened 14coms 83pts 4mos pics
The unbroken seal on King Tut's Tomb 46coms 317pts 5mos pics
Unbroken Seal to a Room within King Tut's Tomb 478coms 1217pts 11mos pics

source: karmadecay

[–]daaaaaaaaniel 0 points1 point ago

Makes me wanna watch The Mummy starring Brendan Fraser

[–]lordofsoup 0 points1 point ago

If no one has broken it yet, I would like to.

[–]akmark 0 points1 point ago

It is sad how much Egyptian history has been perverted by Stargate. I wanted to think of the true incredible nature of it, but all I could think of is some Goa'uld being locked behind it.

[–]workpuppy 0 points1 point ago

To me, that's more of a connection with ancient humanity than all the artifacts inside. No fancy Hollywood knot, or massive ornate seal. Braided rope, with an embossed clay seal. I've got similar rope in my garage, and a kaolin deposit a mile or so away where I could get similar clay.

Not so different at all.

[–]uncleawesome 0 points1 point ago

Makes you think about the person that spent a few minutes of his life standing there twisting the rope around. Then looking at it for the last time human eyes would see it for thousands of years. Amazing.

[–]HarveyMcGhee -3 points-2 points ago

Nice repost here.

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