The mummy's curse: historical cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine survival of individuals exposed to the "mummy's curse" reputedly associated with the opening of the tomb of Tutankhamen in Luxor, Egypt, between February 1923 and November 1926.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
44 Westerners identified by Howard Carter as present in Egypt at the specified dates, 25 of whom were potentially exposed to the curse.


METHODS
Length of survival after date of potential exposure.


RESULTS
In the 25 people exposed to the curse the mean age at death was 70 years (SD 12) compared with 75 (13) in those not exposed (P=0.87 for difference). Survival after the date of exposure was 20.8 (15.2) v 28.9 (13.6) years respectively (P=0.95 for difference). Female sex was a predictor for survival (P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant association between exposure to the mummy's curse and survival and thus no evidence to support the existence of a mummy's curse.
Nelson
Mark R
MR
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Prahran 3181, Australia. mark.nelson@med.monash.edu.au
D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009106:Mummies / Q000266:history*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013483:Superstitions / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D016019:Survival Analysis