Episode 2: Candles
The children’s page for this episode: Be a historian: Episode 2: Candles.
The words from history
Each passage shows the words said in the episode, then the original. Words with a line through them are in the original. We cut them from the episode.
Howard Carter's journal for 1922 and 1923
Griffith Institute, Oxford, a transcript beside scans of each page.
In the episode
Howard Carter I widened the breach and by means of the candle looked in.
In the source
… I widened the breach and by means of the candle looked in,
while Ld. C., Lady E, and Callender with the Reises waited in anxious expectation.
In the episode
Lord Carnarvon Can you see anything?
Lord Carnarvon Can you see anything?
Howard Carter I replied to him Yes, it is wonderful.
In the source
Lord Carnarvon said to me'Can you see anything'. I replied to him Yes, it is wonderful.
In the episode
Howard Carter Two strange ebony-black effigies of a King, gold sandalled, bearing staff and mace.
In the source
… two strange ebony-black effigies of a King, gold sandalled, bearing staff and mace …
In the episode
Howard Carter Gilded couches in strange forms, lion-headed, Hathor-headed, and beast infernal.
In the source
… gilded couches in strange forms, lion-headed, Hathor-headed, and beast infernal …
In the episode
Howard Carter And, lastly a confusion of overturned parts of chariots glinting with gold.
In the source
… and, lastly a confusion of overturned parts of chariots glinting with gold …
In the episode
Howard Carter A small breach had once been made, large enough to allow of a small man to pass through, but it had been carefully reclosed, plastered and sealed.
Howard Carter Evidently the tomb beyond had been entered. By Thieves! Who knows?
In the source
We also discovered that in the bottom part of the blockinga small breach had once been made, large enough to allow of a small man to pass through, but it had been carefully reclosed, plastered and sealed. Evidently the tomb beyond had been entered - by Thieves! Who knows?
Howard Carter and A. C. Mace, The Tomb of Tut-ankh-Amen, volume 1
(New York: Doran, copyright 1923).
In the episode
Howard Carter This was to be our final season in The Valley. Six full seasons we had excavated there, and season after season had drawn a blank.
In the source
This was to be our final season in The Valley. Six full seasons we had excavated there, and season after season had drawn a blank …
In the episode
Howard Carter Hardly had I arrived on the work next morning than the unusual silence made me realise that something out of the ordinary had happened.
In the source
Hardly had I arrived on the work next morning
(November 4th)than the unusual silence,due to the stoppage of the work,made me realise that something out of the ordinary had happened, …
In the episode
Howard Carter It was all I could do to get out the words, "Yes, wonderful things."
In the source
it was all I could do to get out the words, 'Yes, wonderful things.'
The tomb robbers' confession, Papyrus Amherst
In James Henry Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, vol. 4, §§ 536 to 539 (Chicago, 1906).
- Internet Archive: the text of a scanned book, read by a computer
- Internet Archive: the text of a scanned book, read by a computer (2)
In the episode
The robbers Its head had a mask of gold upon it; the mummy of this king was overlaid with gold throughout.
The robbers We stripped off the gold.
In the source
There was a numerous list of amulets and ornaments of gold at its throat;its head had a mask of gold upon it; theaugustmummy of this king was overlaid with gold throughout. ... We stripped off the gold, …
In the episode
The robbers We set fire to their coverings.
In the source
We set fire to their coverings.
Howard Carter, The Tomb of Tut-ankh-Amen, volume 2
(1927).
In the episode
Howard Carter The shrine was intact, its doors bore their original seal uninjured, indicating that the robbers had not reached him.
In the source
The shrine was intact, its doors bore their original seal uninjured, indicating that the robbers had not reached him.
In the episode
Howard Carter An astounding fact was disclosed. This third coffin was made of solid gold!
In the source
An astounding fact was disclosed. This third coffin,
6 feet 1¾ of an inch in length,was made of solid gold!
In the episode
Howard Carter Its weight was still as much as eight strong men could lift.
In the source
Its weight was still as much as eight strong men could lift.
In the episode
Howard Carter The beaten gold mask bears a sad but calm expression.
In the source
The beaten gold mask,
a beautiful and unique specimen of ancient portraiture,bears a sad but calm expressionsuggestive of youth overtaken prematurely by death.
Herodotus, Histories 2.86
Translated by A. D. Godley (Loeb, 1920), Perseus.
Also cited
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“using natron in order to dehydrate corpses”
Wikipedia’s source: "The Greek historian Herodotus on the process of mummification – and he has been proven accurate". University of Texas. Checked: it says the same.
“the body was then dried out with natron”
Wikipedia’s source: Brier, Bob; Wade, Ronald S. (June 2001). "Surgical procedures during ancient Egyptian mummification". Chungara: Revista de Antropología Chilena. 33 (1). Universidad de Tarapaca: 117– 123. JSTOR 27802174. Online, but we couldn’t read it there.
“from Latin natrium and Greek nitron (νίτρον)”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
“was mined by the ancient Egyptians for use in burial rites”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
“Herodotus's eyewitness accounts indicate that he traveled in Egypt ... probably sometime after 454 BC”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
In the episode
Herodotus They first draw out part of the brain through the nostrils with an iron hook.
In the source
If they do this in the most perfect way,they first draw out part of the brain through the nostrils with an iron hook,and inject certain drugs into the rest.
Where the hosts’ facts come from
Kate, Helen and Will’s facts come from these pages. Open “What it says” to see the lines we used.
Tutankhamun
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“Tutankhamun became pharaoh between 8 and 9 years of age”
Wikipedia’s source: Hawass, Zahi (2004). The Golden Age of Tutankhamun. American Univ in Cairo Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-977-424-836-8. Wikipedia cites p. 56. Online, but we couldn’t read it there.
“c. 1332 – 1323 BC, dying at about the age of 19”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
“aged around 18”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
“In 2012, it was suggested he died from a combination of malaria and a leg fracture”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
“The first step of the tomb's entrance staircase was uncovered on 4 November 1922.”
Wikipedia’s source: Winstone, H. V. F. (2006). Howard Carter and the Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, Revised Edition. Barzan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905521-04-3. Wikipedia cites pp. 137–138. Not online.
Wikipedia’s source: Riggs, Christina (2021). Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-5417-0121-2. Wikipedia cites pp. 296–298, 407. Not online.
Wikipedia’s source: James, T. G. H. (2000). Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun, Second Edition. I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-86064-615-7. Wikipedia cites p. 255. Not online.
What it says
- “Tutankhamun became pharaoh between 8 and 9 years of age”
- “c. 1332 – 1323 BC, dying at about the age of 19”
- “aged around 18”
- “In 2012, it was suggested he died from a combination of malaria and a leg fracture”
- “Lady Evelyn Herbert, Lord Carnarvon's daughter who was among the first people to enter the tomb”
- “The first step of the tomb's entrance staircase was uncovered on 4 November 1922.”
Valley of the Kings
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“rock-cut tombs were excavated for pharaohs and powerful nobles”
Wikipedia’s source: Maspero, Gaston (1913). Manual of Egyptian Archaeology, Sixth English Edition. H. Grevel and Co. Wikipedia cites p. 182. Checked: it says the same.
Wikipedia’s source: "Theban Mapping Project". Theban Mapping Project. Checked: the page we opened doesn’t say it.
“It is a wadi sitting on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (modern-day Luxor)”
Wikipedia’s source: Siliotti, Alberto (1997). Guide to the Valley of the Kings. Barnes and Noble. ISBN 88-8095-496-2. Wikipedia cites p. 13. Online, but we couldn’t read it there.
“Almost all tombs throughout Egypt have been robbed.”
Wikipedia’s source: "Valley of the Kings, finds in the Petrie Museum". Digital Egypt. UCL. Checked: the page we opened doesn’t say it.
“The Theban Hills are dominated by the peak of al-Qurn ... It has a pyramid-shaped appearance”
Wikipedia’s source: Dodson, Aidan (1991). Egyptian Rock-cut Tombs. Buckinghamshire: Shire Publications Ltd. ISBN 0-7478-0128-2. Wikipedia cites pp. 5–7. Not online.
Wikipedia’s source: Reeves, Nicholas; Richard H. Wilkinson (1996). The Complete Valley of the Kings. Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05080-5. Wikipedia cites p. 17. Online, but we couldn’t read it there.
“Its isolated position also resulted in reduced access, and special tomb police (the Medjay) were able to guard the necropolis.”
Wikipedia’s source: Bierbrier (1993) p. 39. Not online.
What it says
- “rock-cut tombs were excavated for pharaohs and powerful nobles”
- “It is a wadi sitting on the west bank of the Nile, opposite Thebes (modern-day Luxor)”
- “Almost all tombs throughout Egypt have been robbed.”
- “The Theban Hills are dominated by the peak of al-Qurn ... It has a pyramid-shaped appearance”
- “Its isolated position also resulted in reduced access, and special tomb police (the Medjay) were able to guard the necropolis.”
The robbed king's tomb was at Thebes
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“Pap. Leopold/Amherst | At Thebes, a document with investigation of violated pyramid-tomb”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
“The Abbott and Leopold-Amherst Papyruses, which are dated to Year 16 of Ramesses IX, state that this king's royal pyramid tomb was violated and destroyed by tomb robbers”
Wikipedia’s source: Cottrell, Leonard: The Lost Pharaohs, Pan Books, London and Sydney, 8th printing: (1977), p. 135. ISBN 0330023039. Not online.
What it says
- “Pap. Leopold/Amherst | At Thebes, a document with investigation of violated pyramid-tomb”
- “The Abbott and Leopold-Amherst Papyruses, which are dated to Year 16 of Ramesses IX, state that this king's royal pyramid tomb was violated and destroyed by tomb robbers”
When the robbers were tried
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“ruled 1128-1110 BC) or 1129–1111 BC”
Wikipedia’s source: R. Krauss & D.A. Warburton "Chronological Table for the Dynastic Period" in Erik Hornung, Rolf Krauss & David Warburton (editors), Ancient Egyptian Chronology (Handbook of Oriental Studies), Brill, 2006. p.493. ISBN 978-90-04-11385-5. Not online.
“His reign is best known for the year 16 and year 17 tomb robbery trials”
Wikipedia’s source: T. Eric Peet, The Mayer Papyri A&B, London 1920, 19-20. Not online.
What it says
- “ruled 1128-1110 BC) or 1129–1111 BC”
- “His reign is best known for the year 16 and year 17 tomb robbery trials”
Hathor
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“Hathor was often depicted as a cow”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
What it says
- “Hathor was often depicted as a cow”
Telegrams
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“The telegraph companies charged for their service by the number of words in a message”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
What it says
- “The telegraph companies charged for their service by the number of words in a message”
The Tutankhamun galleries opening
What it says
- “Thousands of visitors streamed through the Grand Egyptian Museum on Tuesday as almost the entire collection of King Tutankhamun's treasures -- over 4,500 artefacts -- was displayed together for the …”
- “inside three nested coffins ... all placed within four gilded shrines like matryoshka dolls. While the coffins are now at the museum, the mummy remains in Luxor.”
- “over 4,500”
The Grand Egyptian Museum
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“Located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Giza Pyramid complex”
Wikipedia’s source: Khaled, Fatma (26 May 2025). "Egyptian Archaeologists Discover Three Tombs in Luxor". AP News. Online, but we couldn’t read it there.
“Two of the twelve halls are dedicated exclusively to the display of 5,398 artifacts belonging to King Tutankhamun ... This is the first time the entire collection has been displayed …”
Wikipedia’s source: "163 Treasures From King Tut's Tomb Arrive at the Grand Egyptian Museum". Artnet News. 13 May 2025. Online, but we couldn’t read it there.
Wikipedia’s source: Tag, Nadine (18 October 2024). "King Tutankhamun's Collection Will Move to Grand Egyptian Museum for Display". Egyptian Streets. Checked: the page we opened doesn’t say it.
What it says
- “Located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the Giza Pyramid complex”
- “Two of the twelve halls are dedicated exclusively to the display of 5,398 artifacts belonging to King Tutankhamun ... This is the first time the entire collection has been displayed …”
The tomb was hidden under the workmen's huts of the Twentieth Dynasty
Wikipedia’s sources for these lines
“from 1189 to 1077 BCE”
Wikipedia gives no footnote beside this line.
What it says
- “from 1189 to 1077 BCE”
Herodotus, Histories 6.105
What it says
- “The generals first sent to Sparta the herald Philippides, an Athenian and a long-distance runner ... when he was in the Parthenian mountain above Tegea he encountered Pan. Pan called …”