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　　For over a century, tales of Egyptian mummies seeking revenge over their disturbed tombs have excited the curiosity of people around the world. However, according to British archaeologist Dominic Montserrat, curses that protect the remains of ancient Egyptians are simply an invention of storywriters.

　　Montserrat has found that the idea of a curse was created 180 years ago by novelist Jane Loudon. In 1821, Loudon got the idea for a horror novel while watching an exhibition of mummies being unwrapped in London. Her novel featured a mummy coming back to life and seeking revenge against an archaeologist.

　　During the late 1860s, the vengeful mummy idea evolved into the concept of the mummy’s curse, which was made popular by several American and British novelists. Another author, Marie Corelli, issued a warning after the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s (King Tut) tomb that anyone who dared enter would be severely punished.