The Egypt curse meme is a popular internet trend that emerged in recent years. It takes inspiration from the concept of the "Mummy's Curse" associated with ancient Egyptian tombs and artifacts. The meme often features humorous and exaggerated scenarios in which individuals face fictional consequences for disrespecting or mishandling Egyptian relics. One of the most common examples of the Egypt curse meme involves an individual visiting a museum or archaeological site and disregarding warning signs or touching ancient artifacts. In these memes, the person unleashes a series of unfortunate events, such as being chased by mummies or experiencing supernatural occurrences. These memes tend to use comical images or videos to create a lighthearted and humorous effect.

Archaeology Shaming: Ancient Curse Memes (or, Put That Thing Back Where It Came From, Or So Help Me)

Welcome to the second edition of Archaeology Shaming! Here, we take a deep dive into the ways popular culture gets archaeology wrong, and the ways it gets archaeology right! Today, we’ll be rounding up posts about ancient curses, talking about the history of archaeology in the public imagination, and then, we’ll talk about the delicate art of Putting That Thing Back Where It Came From, Or So Help Me.

Dear reader, we’ve all seen—well, if you’re a nerd-dweeb like this author, you’ve seen—text posts and memes about ancient curses being passed around with particular intensity lately. Here are a few examples, presented sanitized for those with delicate sensibilities:

Nothing makes sense, Deval. NOTHING.

This isn’t actually what he said, but we are a family-friendly establishment.

It! Is! Fine! It’s fine.

Additionally, beloved posts from The Onion and Poorly Drawn Lines have been resurfacing:

Where did this meme, and the public imagination’s link between archaeology and ancient curses, begin? How did Put That Thing Back Where It Came From, Or So Help Me become a rallying cry at this moment in history? Should we put that thing back where it came from, or so help me?

While it might be obvious to place the starting point for ancient curse memes with the excavation of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb and the resulting explosion of Egyptology in the 1920s, it actually began much earlier! While mummies were considered to have medicinal value as early as the 16th and 17th centuries, as of this writing, we can trace the concept of a mummy’s curse in writing back to Lost in the Pyramid, or, The Mummy’s Curse, a short story Louisa May Alcott (of Little Women fame) penned in the 1860s.

Excellent job. Backhand Laurie for me, would you?

That said, once Tutankhamun’s tomb was excavated by Howard Carter and his team in 1922, there was certainly a massive spike in interest towards ancient Egypt, and towards archaeology as a whole. For example, The Mummy, one of the original Universal Monsters, was released in 1932, shortly after horror legend Boris Karloff had found fame in Frankenstein. This Egyptomania reached a fever pitch and cemented the association of archaeology with ancient curses when Carter died of Hodgkin lymphoma in 1939.

Between Howard Carter’s excavation, The Mummy , the Indiana Jones trilogy (and its unaffiliated tribute film coincidentally also directed by Steven Spielberg), and of course, the video game and film series Tomb Raider, that was all she wrote for archaeology’s public image. At least it’s ancient curses and not dinosaurs (gentle reminder that archaeologists don’t dig dinosaurs; paleontologists do ).

Yet another unrealistic expectation for women.

That said, these memes and cartoons do contain a grain of truth: museums as a whole are currently experiencing a real-life collections crisis. The need for archaeological excavations to protect and preserve artifacts in perpetuity has left many museums and archaeological repositories overwhelmed, lacking storage space, and sometimes even questioning whether to sell objects. Art museums are not exempt from these issues, either; donations from patrons seeking tax write-offs have kept them crowded, as well. This is not, by any means, a new challenge: archaeologists can trace mentions of the collections crisis back to the 1970s .

As it turns out, many museums are putting these things back where they came from, or so help me! Today we’re going to talk a bit about repatriation. I’ll explain: repatriation is the return of human remains, grave goods, and other objects to their descendant communities. There are many reasons why repatriation is important. In many cases, it’s required by law: the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (better known as NAGPRA ), ratified in 1990, charged institutions receiving federal funding to return human remains back to their descendant communities and countries-of-origin within 6 months. Nearly 30 years later, due to the sheer volume of museum collections, NAGPRA projects are ongoing; archaeologists could spend their entire careers participating in repatriations if they wanted to, and some have. For a deeper dive into the importance of repatriations (as well as a visual treat!) UMass Amherst has made Journeys to Complete the Work , a short comic about repatriation by Sonya Atalay, Jen Shannon, and John Swogger, available for free download.

One of the most well-known repatriation battles was the decade-long fight over which entity would be given the rights to keep Kennewick Man (known to Indigenous communities at The Ancient One). Eventually, this individual was repatriated to a coalition of Columbia Basin tribes, and reinterred in 2017. Dr. Kim Tallbear, Associate Professor of Anthropology at UT Austin, has an excellent longform article detailing the story of The Ancient One as well as the many challenges experienced by THPOs (Tribal Historic Preservation Offices) and museums as they try to enforce NAGPRA guidelines. As mentioned in a previous episode of Archaeology Shaming, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is also involved in the #NoMoreStolenAncestors campaign, urging the return of nearly 1,500 individuals to Florida by the Smithsonian Institution.

While these cases are spiritually and politically significant, the concept of repatriation is not limited to NAGPRA dealings, or even to human remains. For example, in Southeast Florida, The Lowe Art Museum returned three looted basalt carvings to Mexico in 2013, and History Fort Lauderdale hosted a repatriation ceremony for a Mexican tzilinilli (copper alloy bell used as a trade object). This growing frequency of repatriation outside of NAGPRA is part of a larger movement towards decolonizatio n within museums and academic settings.

But stage one little heist to obtain vibranium objects and suddenly you’re being chased by the FBI!

There has certainly been a great deal of uproar within the scientific community regarding how best to approach repatriation, or whether to repatriate human remains or artifacts at all. However, it is mutually beneficial, and in the interests of science, to partner closely with the communities whose histories we work to understand. Building a strong foundation for that work includes respecting the spiritual practices of these communities.

Stay tuned for our next edition of Archaeology Shaming, and for more educational content accessible from home!

Why Tutankhamun’s curse continues to fascinate, 100 years after his discovery

Claire Isabella Gilmour does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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University of Bristol provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK.

The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 was a monumental event for archaeology. It was the first largely intact ancient Egyptian royal tomb to be found and hence provided major insights into the burial practices of royalty. It also gave a glimpse of what other undiscovered, lost or robbed tombs of pharaohs might have been like.

Tutankhamun was a relatively minor pharaoh. He died young and did not get the chance to leave a larger legacy, so such a lavish funerary provision for him implied even greater treasures in other tombs of more accomplished pharaohs.

Interest in the burial practices of the ancient Egyptians was well-established, with the deciphering of hieroglyphs in 1822 creating a watershed moment for Egyptology, but the discovery of the tomb built on this and brought ancient Egypt to the masses through media reports.

The discovery came just after the first world war, in a period of deep mourning for the losses in conflict. The story of a young man with a family who had died before his time resonated with many. Tutankhamun was a burst of glorious colour in a dark time, which came with the extra draw of the mysteries of the tomb and eternal life. It was also found in a last-ditch attempt to locate it; Howard Carter had been searching for it for years, and his success made a compelling story of hope, persistence and reward.

It was also a discovery full of mystery and intrigue. An ancient king in a long searched-for tomb full of fascinating objects laden with mystical and primeval meaning. The story captured the public’s imagination and papers at the time capitalised on that interest with a tale of a curse.

These memes tend to use comical images or videos to create a lighthearted and humorous effect. The Egypt curse meme also makes references to popular culture, intertwining elements of ancient Egyptian mythology and modern-day comedic references. Memes related to the curse often depict individuals encountering mummy-like creatures, pharaohs, or even the ancient Egyptian gods themselves.

The famous fake curse

The oft-quoted curse “Death will come on swift wings to him who disturbs the peace of the king” does not actually appear anywhere in the tomb. There are real ancient Egyptian curses but this was not one. Tutankhamun’s curse stemmed from a media battle for readership.

The Times had the exclusive rights for reporting on the excavation, so speculative stories were published by other newspapers, including the rumours of a curse. This again played on post-Victorian familiarity with spiritualism, an interest in the gothic in literature and the trend for travellers’ souvenirs, which often included mummified remains or other objects from tombs.

Readers bought into the idea of a curse with relish. There were also a series of illnesses, accidents and other events the papers attributed to the opening of the tomb. The most notable was the death of Lord Carnarvon, who funded the excavation, on April 5 1923. The cause of death was an infected cut, but the opportunity to connect this with the curse was irresistible.

Students of Egyptian mysticism … attribute sickness and death to curse laid by Ancient Egyptians on any who dare disturb the rest of a Pharaoh". (Allentown Morning Call, April 5 1923).

Research since, has, however, thoroughly debunked the idea that those present at the opening met an untimely end. Only a handful of people who were there at the opening died within the next decade and Howard Carter, who would have been a primary target for a curse, died in 1939, aged 64.

Despite us all knowing that curse was fabricated, it has had a long-term effect on the discovery of ancient relics and the perpetuation of such myths. The idea that human remains must be dealt with carefully has been present since the early days of excavation. However, archaeology today is concerned more than ever with the ethics of working with human remains, their interpretation and how they are kept.

These humorous depictions of the "curse" reflect the internet's ability to create and spread jokes that resonate with a wide audience. Although the Egypt curse meme is meant to be humorous, it also underscores the fascination and intrigue associated with ancient Egypt. Through the meme, people can appreciate the rich history and mythology surrounding this ancient civilization, even if in a light-hearted manner. Additionally, the meme serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting cultural heritage and artifacts, as the parody consequences in the memes highlight the potential consequences of disrespecting ancient relics. Overall, the Egypt curse meme combines elements of popular culture, ancient mythology, and humor to create an entertaining internet trend. It invites individuals to imagine exaggerated scenarios involving ancient Egyptian curses while also appreciating the cultural significance of these relics..

Reviews for "The Influence of the Egypt Curse Meme on Egyptian Youth Culture"

1. Jane - 1 star - I really didn't find the "Egypt curse meme" amusing at all. The concept felt insensitive and disrespectful towards ancient Egyptian culture. Using their history and beliefs as a joke just didn't sit right with me. I think it's important to be mindful and respectful when it comes to creating and sharing memes, and this one missed the mark completely.

2. Mike - 2 stars - The "Egypt curse meme" was just not funny to me. I felt like it was trying too hard to be edgy and ended up being more offensive than humorous. Making light of ancient curses and superstitions is not my idea of entertainment, and I think it's important to consider the possible negative impact of such memes on a cultural level.

3. Sarah - 1 star - I found the "Egypt curse meme" to be tasteless and disrespectful. It trivializes the rich history and beliefs of ancient Egyptians by turning them into a joke. Memes should be lighthearted and fun, but this one crossed a line by mocking a culture that should be appreciated and respected.

4. John - 2 stars - The "Egypt curse meme" fell flat for me. It seemed like a cheap attempt at humor by using a tired cliché about ancient Egyptian curses. I didn't find it original or clever, and it seemed to rely on stereotypes rather than genuine wit. There are so many other creative and genuinely funny memes out there that I prefer to spend my time on.

5. Emily - 1 star - I was disappointed with the "Egypt curse meme." It perpetuates offensive stereotypes and doesn't bring anything original or thought-provoking to the table. I believe that humor should be inclusive and respectful, and this meme did neither. It missed an opportunity to educate and entertain, instead resorting to lazy and offensive jokes.

Ancient Curses and Digital Culture: The Fascination with the Egypt Curse Meme