Fountaindale Public Library

The earl and the pharaoh, from the real Downton Abbey to the discovery of Tutankhamun, The Countess of Carnarvon

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 359-361) and index.

mapsillustrationsgenealogical tablesphotographs

index present

non fiction

The earl and the pharaoh

bibliography

1351709699

The Countess of Carnarvon

from the real Downton Abbey to the discovery of Tutankhamun

Between November 1922 and spring 1923, a door to the ancient Egyptian world was opened. The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun would be the most astonishing archaeological find of the century, revealing not only the boy pharaoh's preserved remains but also thousands of finely crafted objects, from the iconic gold mask and coffins to a dagger made from meteorite to chalices, beautiful furniture, and even three-thousand-year-old food and wine. The world's understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization was immeasurably enhanced, and the quantity and richness of the treasures in the tomb are still being studied today. Two men were ultimately responsible for the discovery: Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter. It was Lord Carnarvon who held the concession to excavate and whose passion and ability to finance the project allowed the eventual uncovering to take place. This book tells the story of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Carnarvon's life, money, and sudden death became front-page news throughout the world following the discovery of the tomb, fueling rumors that persist today of the "curse of the pharaohs." His beloved home, Highclere Castle, is best-known as the set of Downton Abbey. Drawing on Highclere Castle's never-before-plumbed archives, this book charts the twists of luck and tragedies that shaped Carnarvon's life, and his restless and enquiring mind that drove him to travel to escape conventional society life in Edwardian Britain

adult