+ All Categories
Home > Documents > The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath of King Tut.pdfa story inspired by true events Drama....

The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath of King Tut.pdfa story inspired by true events Drama....

Date post: 19-Mar-2020
Category:
Upload: others
View: 6 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
4
COMPOSITE BY ALLAN DAVEY; SHUTTERSTOCK (ALL IMAGES) SCOPE.SCHOLASTIC.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 9 The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath BY SPENCER KAYDEN DRAMATIZATION a story inspired by true events Drama
Transcript
Page 1: The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath of King Tut.pdfa story inspired by true events Drama. Luxor, Egypt, five months earlier ... untold riches. N3: Some believed that the

CO

MP

OS

ITE

BY

AL

LA

N D

AV

EY

; S

HU

TT

ER

ST

OC

K (

AL

L I

MA

GE

S)

SCOPE.SCHOLASTIC.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 9

The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath BY SPENCER KAYDEN

DRAMATIZATION

a story inspired by

true events

Drama

Page 2: The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath of King Tut.pdfa story inspired by true events Drama. Luxor, Egypt, five months earlier ... untold riches. N3: Some believed that the

Luxor, Egypt, five months earlierN3: A team of archaeologists and workers is gathered in

the Valley of the Kings.

N1: It is a desolate place full of sand and rock.

N2: The men sweat profusely in the heat.

N3: Two workers talk to Mr. Howard Carter.

Gerigar: You have

been searching

in this valley

for years,

Mr. Carter.

What makes

you think

this spot will

be any different?

Carter: This is the one

place in the valley

where I have not yet

looked.

Moussa: Fair enough.

Gerigar (loudly):

Gentlemen, let’s clear

away all this debris.

N1: The crew gets

to work.

N2: Before long,

Gerigar finds a large,

smooth stone under

the sand. He keeps

digging and uncovers

another stone.

Gerigar: Mr. Carter, I

think I’ve found

something unusual.

N3: Carter brushes off

the stones, then

gently probes the sand around them.

Carter: It seems to be part of a structure.

N1: The crew continues to dig.

Worker 1: Look!

Worker 2: What is that?

Gerigar: It appears to be a staircase.

Carter (excited ): Keep going! Keep digging!

Worker 1: The staircase leads to a door!

Worker 2: Look! There are royal symbols on the door.

Moussa: Mr. Carter, what do you make of this?

N2: Carter studies the door carefully.

Carter: I must summon Lord Carnarvon from England

before we go any further. He and I should make this

discovery together.

Carter’s tent, later

that dayN3: Carter

walks into his

tent. Moussa is

waiting for him.

Carter: You look as if

you have seen a ghost!

Moussa: I just came

from your house. I am

afraid a cobra crawled

inside and killed your

beloved canary.

Carter: Oh my. I am

quite sad to hear that.

Moussa: The cobra is

a symbol of

protection for the

pharaoh. Mr. Carter,

don’t you see? This is

a warning.

Circle the character you will play.

*Starred characters are major roles.

*Narrators 1, 2, 3 (N1, N2, N3)Lord Carnarvon: a wealthy Englishman who is

funding Howard Carter’s archaeology project

Lady Evelyn Herbert: Lord Carnarvon’s daughter

Doctor: Lord Carnarvon’s physician

*Ahmed Gerigar: an Egyptian worker

*Howard Carter: an English archaeologist and Lord

Carnarvon’s business partner

Workers 1 and 2Tarik Moussa: an Egyptian worker

Alan Gardiner: a hieroglyphics specialist

Arthur Mace: a member of Carter’s team

Georges Bénédite: a curator from France

Tony: a truck driver

Angela: a truck driver

N1: Many centuries ago in Egypt, there lived a pharaoh

named Tutankhamen.

N2: Tutankhamen became pharaoh around 1333 b.c.

N3: He was only 9 years old.

N1: Ten years later, he died. Mysteriously.

N2: Tut was buried in a secret tomb said to hold

untold riches.

N3: Some believed that the tomb was cursed—that

opening it would unleash a powerful evil.

N1: Still, for thousands of years, men searched for the

tomb—lured by its treasures.

N2: But the tomb was never found.

N3: Until now.

Cairo, Egypt, April 1923N1: Lady Evelyn Herbert sits at the bedside of her

father, Lord Carnarvon. Books and clothes are strewn

about the dimly lit room.

N2: Carnarvon looks thin and frail in the large bed.

Carnarvon: I will be fine, my dear.

Herbert: But Father, your skin has turned so pale. And

that red mark on your cheek looks like it’s on fire.

Carnarvon: It is nothing. Just a mosquito bite.

Herbert: Are you sure? You seem to be having trouble

breathing.

Carnarvon: I’m euphoric!

Herbert (taking his hand ): I know, Father. Your

archaeology team has just made the discovery of the

century. Your name will live forever in history books.

N3: Lord Carnarvon begins to cough. A doctor arrives.

Herbert (quietly): Doctor, what is wrong with him?

Doctor: I cannot say. This is a very mysterious illness.

Herbert: He must get well. Haven’t you heard?

Doctor: Ah yes, the discovery of the tomb of

Tutankhamen. All of Egypt has been speaking of it.

Herbert: The treasures inside have been hidden

for more than 3,000 years.

Doctor: Forgive me, my lady, but perhaps they

should remain hidden.

Herbert: What do you mean?

Doctor: Many believe that the final resting place

of a pharaoh is sacred—and that those who enter a

pharaoh’s tomb will be cursed.

N1: CLAP! Thunder echoes outside. Lady Herbert and

the doctor both jump.

Herbert (whispering): Father did fall ill soon after he

entered Tutankhamen’s tomb.

N2: Lord Carnarvon’s body begins to tremble. He

reaches for his daughter’s hand.

Carnarvon: Dearest Evelyn, tell Carter he must . . .

N3: Carnarvon gasps for breath.

Herbert: Father?

N1: The lights flicker—and go out.

N2: CLAP! Thunder sounds again.

N3: The room is dark, save for a sliver of moonlight

peeking in through the window.

N1: The doctor checks Carnarvon’s pulse.

Doctor (to himself ): It seems the curse has claimed its

first victim.

Herbert: Is he . . . ?

Doctor: I am so sorry, my lady.

N2: Neither the doctor nor Lady Evelyn notices the

cobra that slithers out from under Carnarvon’s bed

and disappears into the shadows.

As You Read

Characters

Hear these names pronounced

at Scope Online.

10 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • FEBRUARY 2017

SH

UT

TE

RS

TO

CK

SH

UT

TE

RS

TO

CK

(B

AC

KG

RO

UN

D);

TH

E N

EW

YO

RK

TIM

ES

(H

EA

DL

INE

); R

UE

DE

S A

RC

HIV

ES

/TH

E

GR

AN

GE

R C

OL

LE

CT

ION

(H

OW

AR

D C

AR

TE

R);

LO

RD

PR

ICE

CO

LL

EC

TIO

N/A

LA

MY

(L

OR

D C

AR

NA

RV

ON

)

Why do people believe in curses?

In the 1920s, Americans and Europeans had a fascination with ancient civilizations, especially Egypt. Explorers and archaeologists like Howard Carter traveled the world in search of ancient treasures. In this photo, Carter brings artifacts up from King Tut’s tomb. Though Egyptian law stated that the artifacts had to stay in Egypt, many ended up in museums and private collections around the world. Today, most have been returned to the Egyptian Museum in Egypt’s capital, Cairo.

11

Lord Carnarvon was obsessed with ancient Egypt. He funded Howard Carter’s search for the tomb of King Tut.

Page 3: The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath of King Tut.pdfa story inspired by true events Drama. Luxor, Egypt, five months earlier ... untold riches. N3: Some believed that the

12 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • FEBRUARY 2017

Carter: A warning about what?

Moussa: You must not disturb the pharaoh’s tomb.

Carter: My good man, that is nonsense.

Moussa: But . . .

Carter: Just think of it. If we were to find the tomb of

Tutankhamen, we’d be able to show the world a

perfectly preserved piece of ancient Egypt. And we’d

be famous for doing it! What could be bad about that?

A few weeks laterN1: Lord Carnarvon stands next to Carter as the crew

finishes digging out the staircase.

Carnarvon: You were right to wait for me to arrive from

England. Carter, old chap, this is the moment we have

been waiting for.

N2: Carnarvon claps Carter on the back while the crew

breaks through the door at the bottom of the staircase.

Carnarvon: After you, Carter.

N3: Carter leads the team through the door

and into a dark stone passageway.

N1: The men are silent, their faces full of

wonder. The sound of their steps echoes

off the walls.

N2: At the end of the passageway, they

come to another sealed door.

Carnarvon: This door has hieroglyphs on it.

Gardiner: Let me have a look. (leaning in

closely) Tut . . . an . . . khamen!

Carnarvon: By Jove, Carter, we’ve found it!

Carter (in awe): No human being has set

foot here in thousands of years.

N3: With trembling hands, Carter makes a

small breach in the

door. Holding a

candle before him,

he pokes his head

through the hole.

N1: A sudden blast

of hot air escapes

from the chamber.

The candle flickers.

Carnarvon: Can you

see anything?

King Tut’s tomb, May 1923N2: Carter and his crew are identifying and cataloging

everything in Tut’s tomb.

N3: Inside the burial chamber, the workers use pulleys to

lift a coffin out of a stone sarcophagus.

Carter: Careful now. Steady. Don’t jostle the mummy.

Mace: Why is it so heavy?

Carter: The coffin seems to be solid gold! Just think—

soon we will be looking into the

face of an ancient king. If only

Lord Carnarvon were here to

see it . . .

Mace: Can someone take this

rope? I feel weak.

Gardiner: I’ll get it.

N1: Gardiner takes the rope just

as Mace collapses.

Carter: What happened?

Gardiner: I am not sure. One moment he was fine, the

next, he fainted.

Carter: He must be overheated. Get this man to a tent

and give him water.

Gerigar: Mr. Carter, the curator from France is here.

N2: Carter follows Gerigar out of the tomb to his tent.

Carter: Good afternoon! I trust this heat has not got the

better of you?

Bénédite: Ah, it is a small price

to pay for such a magnificent

find. Carter, what are the

chances we can bring some of

these marvelous treasures to

France?

Carter: Men have come from

museums all over the world to

see Tut’s tomb. Its treasures are

magnificent, as you say. But

though I want to share this

extraordinary discovery with the

world, it does not belong to me.

Bénédite: Would it really matter

if one or two artifacts were

missing?

Carter: The contents of the

tomb must stay in Egypt. Say,

are you quite all right? You look

rather flushed.

N3: Bénédite suddenly

collapses. Gerigar takes his

pulse.

Gerigar: Mr. Carter . . . he is . . .

he is dead.

A market in Cairo, the next dayN1: Gerigar sees Moussa in the market.

Gerigar: Mr. Moussa, why haven’t you been working at

the tomb?

Moussa: I will not go back there.

Gerigar: Why not?

Moussa: I heard that a tablet was found in the

tomb that says, “Death will come to those who

SCOPE.SCHOLASTIC.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 13

Carter: Yes . . . wonderful things!

N2: The crew widens the hole, and the men slip

through.

N3: They find themselves in a room overflowing with

glittering treasures: statues, jewelry, and gold—

everywhere, the glint of gold.

N1: Gardiner picks up a gilded wooden cobra.

Gardiner: Carter, I can’t help but wonder if these

serpents have real power. People have warned me that

a curse will be unleashed if we enter this tomb.

Carter (whispering): Keep your superstitions to

yourself, Gardiner. If the workers believe there is a

curse, they won’t help us excavate. And we can’t do it

alone.

Gardiner: You have studied ancient Egypt most of your

life. You don’t believe the curse could be real?

Carter: I think it is hogwash.

Gardiner: I do hope you are right.

CR

ED

ITS

TK

Ancient Egyptians believed that they would need their bodies in the afterlife, so it was important to preserve their corpses through mummification. It was an expensive process—only the wealthy could afford it—that took at least 70 days. At left, Howard Carter examines King Tut’s mummy, which is encased in the burial mask (above). According to rumors at the time, Tut’s mummy had a mark on its cheek in the same place as Lord Carnarvon’s mosquito bite. Wwwooooooo . . .

Cairo

Nile

RedSea

Libya

SaudiArabiaEGYPT

Jordan

Israel

Cairo

Valley ofthe Kings

Mediterranean Sea

Luxor

Sudan

0 100

Scale of Miles

RO

SE

MA

RY

CA

LV

ER

T/P

HO

TO

GR

AP

HE

R’S

CH

OIC

E/G

ET

TY

IM

AG

ES

(M

AS

K)

SH

UT

TE

RS

TO

CK

(B

AC

KG

RO

UN

D);

JIM

McM

AH

ON

/MA

PM

AN

®

(MA

P);

GR

AN

GE

R,

NY

C/T

HE

GR

AN

GE

R C

OL

LE

CT

ION

(C

OF

FIN

)

Page 4: The (possibly) true story of a mummy’s wrath of King Tut.pdfa story inspired by true events Drama. Luxor, Egypt, five months earlier ... untold riches. N3: Some believed that the

14 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • FEBRUARY 2017

disturb the sleep of the pharaoh.”

Gerigar: That is a rumor. And if such a thing were found,

it would probably have been written to scare away tomb

robbers.

Moussa: Did you not hear about Sheik Abdul Haman?

Gerigar: No.

Moussa: He went to visit the tomb. The next day, he got

a high fever. Now he is dead. So is the French curator

and Lord Carnarvon. And

what of Mace?

Gerigar: He just got

overheated. He is fine now.

Moussa: We have not seen

the end of this curse.

Gerigar: Mr. Carter works in

the tomb every day. He is

nothing if not robust.

Moussa: Others are paying

for his greed with their lives.

Entering the tomb was bad

enough, but Mr. Carter is

removing every last one

of the 5,000 artifacts that

have been found inside.

Gerigar: Mr. Carter is

taking them to the

museum in Cairo. Is that so

wrong?

Moussa: If Mr. Carter is

willing to desecrate

Tutankhamen’s tomb, he

does not truly respect the

pharaoh or our people.

Gerigar: Our ancestors believed that their souls were

kept alive when their names were remembered. You

must admit: Because of Howard Carter, Tutankhamen

will live forever.

Texas, 2017N2: A man and a woman drive down a dark and empty

highway in an 18-wheeler.

Tony: Thanks for giving me a ride to Houston, Angela.

What are you hauling tonight?

Angela: Ancient treasure. I’m bringing it to a museum.

Tony: Are you kidding me?

Angela: Nope. It’s stuff from the tomb of that mummy

guy, King Tut.

Tony: Doesn’t that give you the creeps?

Angela: What do you mean?

Tony: Well, would you want someone digging you out of

the ground thousands of years after you died?

Whatever happened to

“rest in peace”?

Angela: It’s funny you

should say that. When I took

this job, they told me that a

bunch of other drivers had

already turned it down.

Tony: Why?

Angela: People say there’s a

curse on anyone who

disturbs King Tut or

anything that was buried

with him. They believe that

what’s in the back of this

truck should never have

been taken from his tomb.

Tony: What do you think?

Angela: I think it’s getting

late. Let’s stop for coffee.

N3: Angela steers the truck

onto the exit ramp.

N1: Just then, the truck’s

headlights catch something

stretched across the road.

Angela: What is that?

N2: Angela and Tony see a flash of yellow eyes.

Tony: Watch out!

N3: Angela hits the brakes.

Angela and Tony: Aaaaaah!!!

N1: The truck skids into a ditch and comes to a violent

stop.

Angela: What was that thing?

N2: They peer out the window.

N3: An enormous cobra slithers across the road. It turns

its head and flicks its tongue at them before slinking

away into the night. • SH

UT

TE

RS

TO

CK

(B

AC

KG

RO

UN

D);

KE

NN

ET

H G

AR

RE

TT

AN

D E

LIS

AB

ET

H D

AY

NE

S/N

AT

ION

AL

GE

OG

RA

PH

IC

CR

EA

TIV

E (

KIN

G T

UT

AN

KH

AM

EN

); C

RIS

BO

UR

ON

CL

E/A

FP

/GE

TT

Y I

MA

GE

S (

MU

MM

Y)

EZ

RA

SH

AW

/GE

TT

Y I

MA

GE

S (

CH

ICA

GO

CU

BS

); S

TE

VE

AL

LE

N/G

ET

TY

IM

AG

ES

(G

OA

T)

If most people believe that superstitions are malarkey, why did superstitions have so much power during the excavation of King Tut’s tomb? Why do they still have power today? Send your answer to TUT CONTEST. Five winners will get The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan.

WRITING CONTEST

GET THIS ACTIVITY ONLINE

Experts have been studying Tutankhamen for decades. They’ve figured out what he may have

looked like (rendering above) by studying his mummy (left). They’ve also found a few possible

explanations for the so-called curse. One is that there were toxic mold spores inside Tut’s tomb. These can be deadly for someone with a weak immune system—someone like Lord Carnarvon, who had an infected mosquito bite.

SCOPE.SCHOLASTIC.COM • FEBRUARY 2017 15

Essay

Last November, the

world went nuts when

the Chicago Cubs won

the World Series. It was

a historic moment: The Cubs

hadn’t won it in 108 years.

Why? The Billy Goat curse, of

course. Or at least that’s what

some fans believe.

According to legend, in 1945,

William “Billy Goat” Sianis tried

to bring his pet goat to a Cubs

game. When informed that his

goat would not be admitted, the

offended Sianis cursed the team,

saying: “The Cubs ain’t gonna

win no more!”

So last year when the Cubs

beat the Indians in the final game

of the World Series, it seemed the

curse was over at last.

Why It RainedMost of us understand that

curses are malarkey—no more

than leftover beliefs from the

distant past, when people did not

have the scientific understanding

that we have today.

Ancient humans didn’t

know why storms

happened or how

diseases spread or why

crops failed. It was widely

believed that the way to

deal with such problems

was to win favor from the

gods. That usually meant

sacrificing animals (or people).

Faith in ritual sacrifice must have

been reinforced each time it seemed

to work. Say animals were sacrificed

because of a drought. Then it rained.

What better proof could you ask for?

All these years later, many of us

still have at least a few superstitious

beliefs. Think about buildings that

don’t have a 13th floor, because the

number 13 is considered unlucky.

Or tennis star Serena Williams, who

wears the same socks to each game

during a tournament; she says it

brings her luck. Or sports fans who

wear their team’s jersey throughout

the season without washing it—to

avoid jinxing their team.

Sense of Control Why do we hang on

to such superstitions?

One reason could

be that they give us a

sense of control. There’s

a lot in this world that

we can’t do anything

about; it’s comforting to

think that we can help

ourselves by carrying a lucky

penny, knocking on wood, or

avoiding black cats.

In fact, superstitious rituals

can have an effect. If Serena’s

sock ritual boosts her confidence

and helps her focus, wearing the

same socks for two weeks

straight might really help her

win. The same goes for the Cubs,

but in reverse: If the players

believed their team was cursed,

their performance could have

been negatively affected.

One thing is certain, anyway:

After more than a century of

failure, the Cubs waited long

enough for their victory. •

The Power of CursesWhy superstitious beliefs take hold BY KRISTIN LEWIS

Apparently the Billy Goat curse applied only to the World Series. The Cubs have won many

games since 1945.

The Chicago Cubs celebrate their World Series victory.


Recommended