Tomb Curse Pronounced a Myth

　　Researchers at Australia's Monash University have studied the curse of Tutankhamun's tomb, which was opened in 1923. The myth of the Mummy's Curse arose when some of those involved in opening the tomb in Luxor died prematurely¹, including the sponsor of the expedition Lord Carnarvon. Another member of the team Alb Lythgoe died in 1934 after a stroke. However, the researchers discovered that the 26 present at the excavations² in the Valley of the Kings, or later coffin-openings, lived to an average age of 70. The British Medical Journal states that the research, led by Mark Nelson, shows the myth has little basis in fact. A rumour³ suggested that anyone opening the royal tomb would have a curse placed on them. However, the expedition leader Howard Carter, who opened the tomb, survived \into\ old age although his canary was eaten by a cobra the same day. Dr Nelson believes that the rumours⁴ of a curse could have been generated by rival newspapers after The Times of London was given exclusive rights to the story. 

　　澳大利亚莫纳什大学的学者们对图坦卡蒙王陵的诅咒进行了研究，该陵墓于1923年被发掘。这座位于卢克斯(埃及中部城市)的陵墓被发掘后不久，与此事有关的一些人--其中包括赞助发掘的卡纳冯勋爵--纷纷早逝，关于木乃伊诅咒的传说由此而生。考古队中另一成员埃尔布-利斯苟于1934年死于中风。然而，学者们发现，参与了王陵谷发掘工作或是此后的开棺行动的26个人平均活到了70岁。《英国医学杂志》称，由马克-纳尔逊主持的这项研究表明有关诅咒的传说并无事实依据。根据传闻，任何打开法老陵墓的人都将受到诅咒。但是，打开陵墓的探险行动负责人霍华德-卡特却活到了老年--尽管他的金丝雀在陵墓开启当天被一条眼镜蛇吃了。纳尔逊博士认为，关于诅咒的流言可能是与伦敦《泰晤士报》竞争的一些报纸散布出来的，因为《泰晤士报》获得了发掘行动的独家报道权。

　　Remarks：诅咒的说法不会被平均寿命的统计推翻，也不能为短命夭亡的事实所证明--因为我们不知道每个人原本"应该"活多久。