In 922, Howard Carter amazed the world by opening the tomb of Tutankhamun (1336–1327 B.C.), in the Valley of the Kings. He was shocked to discover he wasn’t the first: “Plunderers had entered the tomb,” he wrote, “and entered it more than once.” The tomb had been violated twice—the last time probably during the reign of Pharaoh Horemheb (1323–1295 B.C.). Smashing a hole in the wall beneath a jaguar-shaped bench (above), the ancient thieves made off with jewelry, linens and precious oils. The robbery was discovered by Horemheb’s officials (as we know from their seals, showing a jackal standing […]
