The Curse of the Pharaohs: Zahi Hawass Reveals Its Scientific Reality

The Curse of the Pharaohs                                                       

"The Curse of the Pharaohs": Zahi Hawass Reveals Its Scientific Reality

"The Curse of the Pharaohs" is a common legend about a curse supposedly afflicting anyone who approaches the tombs of the pharaohs or ancient Egyptian mummies.

However, the Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass revealed its scientific reality, explaining that it has nothing to do with magic or mysterious forces, but rather with germs that have accumulated inside tombs sealed for thousands of years. 

Hawass explained that opening an ancient sarcophagus directly without ventilating it for 15 minutes can lead to fatal illnesses, which some in the past interpreted as a curse afflicting those who come near mummies.

He added that the mummification process was extremely meticulous, as all organs were removed except for the heart, and natural materials such as henna and linen were used to wrap the body and ensure its preservation for thousands of years. 

He also spoke about his most important discoveries: the Valley of the Golden Mummies, the pyramid adjacent to Khufu's, and the Golden City in Luxor, describing them as "the most important discovery in the world in the modern era and the 21st century."

His Friendship with Omar Sharif

In another context, Hawass revealed that he was the closest friend of the artist Omar Sharif, but that he didn't recognize him in his final days due to Sharif's Alzheimer's disease. He added, "He would wait for me and always talk to me, and I would sit with him and his friends every week," noting that Sharif helped him in a televised debate. He further stated that the artist was a devoted Al-Ahly supporter and a friend of the late football player and actor Saleh Selim.