Stories about the place of the dead

Mummies always surrounded by mystery, they attracted the attention of scientists and frightened townsfolk. People wanted to touch the unknown, closer to the thin line separating the worlds of the living and the dead.





However, only the most desperate daredevils embarks on a journey to find the ancient tombs. Today, everything is much simpler - a lot of mummies from around the world are kept in museums. To look at them, learn about ancient cults, not necessarily wade through the jungle and sand, do not risk your life. Or it is not safe, and worried constantly avenge the dead people who have broken their peace, according to numerous legends of our time? Today we tell about the most famous mummies of the world and about where they can be seen.

Tutankhamun, Egypt



The most famous - the mummy of Tutankhamun, which is located in the Valley of the Kings at Luxor. In truth, the next Pharaoh does not stand out in a series of rulers and had almost nothing to do, he ascended to the throne in nine years and died at 19. According to recent reports, the young man died at 1352g. BC. e. his death. All the most interesting events related to Tutankhamun began three thousand years after his death, when in 1922. two Englishmen - Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon - managed to find it untouched tomb robbers. On opening all nested one inside the other wooden and stone coffins, the archaeologists saw a golden sarcophagus. Due to the vacuum created inside it perfectly preserved even flowers, not to mention the jewelry. Pharaoh face mask covers made of pure gold. Followed further chain of misfortunes gave rise to talk about the curse of the ancient priests. About a year later, Lord Carnarvon died suddenly from the bite of a mosquito, then one after the other died assistants Carter, just as suddenly was death and Archibald Reed - a scientist who wanted to do an X-ray of the mummy. Reasonable arguments that eager for sensational British newspapermen simply brought together quite understandable disease and age at death, the company was not interested, and there was the legend of the curse of the pharaohs.

Oetzi, Italy



Another ominous mummy - "ice man", called by archaeologists Oetzi is in the Archaeological Museum of South Tyrol in the Italian town of Bolzano. Body of a man who lived more than 5 thousand. Years ago with well-preserved fragments of clothing were found in the ice on the border of the Italian and Swiss Alps in 1991. German tourists. Argue that the dead man dragged behind him on the six light of our contemporaries. The first was discovered its tourist Helmut Simon: inspired premium of 100 thousand. USD. For the unique discovery, he decided to celebrate once again to visit the place where he found the mummy, but was in a snowstorm and died. Do not have time to bury him, as he died of a heart attack lifeguard Perceiving the deceased Helmut. Soon, in a car accident killed forensic scientist who has studied Oetzi's body, and it happened when he was going to be interviewed on television about the results of the study. Overtaken by death and professional climber, accompanied the scientist to the place of discovery of ancient man - during the collapse in the mountains of his head hit a huge rock. In a few years, died of a brain tumor Austrian journalist, who was present during transport mummies and shot a documentary about it. The latest victim was the Austrian archaeologist who has studied body. Some researchers argue that the items found at the "ice man", belong to different epochs: in their view, shooting seven thousand years, and only two ax, skins that our ancestors used instead of clothes, and all belong to the goat, live exclusively in China .

Siberian Ice Maiden, Altai



In the Altai in 1993. during the excavation of ancient burial mound was found walled up in a layer of ice is well preserved body of a woman who lived in the V-III centuries BC. e. and died at the age of 25 years. Apparently, it was a special non-poor: in the grave were found six horses with a harness. Scientists were delighted unique find and the locals talk that disturbed the grave of a noble lady necessarily bring misfortune. For example, some Altai argue that efforts seismic activity and increase the number of pointless suicides among the local population - all this revenge princess. Talk about constantly breaking down devices, and even crashed helicopter, which was originally going to drive a mummy, but officially this information no one has confirmed. Popular rumor has erected a woman to the rank of a princess - the progenitor of the Altai peoples, although, according to scientists, it belonged to a wealthy middle class. Now the mummy is kept in a museum in Novosibirsk Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Xin Zhui, China



This perfectly preserved mummy was found in China in 1971 .: its joints are mobile, elastic skin preserved natural shade. Four nested one into another sarcophagus helped delay the decomposition of the body, but that's not the only problem. This mummy is unique in that it was stored in a yellowish liquid, the composition of which is still not exactly clear. Around the deceased discovered thousands of different items, including her favorite dishes and recipes for them, unique books on medicine. It turned out that 50-year-old who died was the wife of a senior official. Chinese scientists who conducted the study, soon died of an unknown illness. Mummy is now in the historical museum in the Chinese city of Changsha.

Dashi Dorzho Itigelov, Buryatia



In 2002,., According to the will of the deceased, was opened sarcophagus famous Buddhist leader of the early twentieth century Dashi Dorzho Itigelov. Signs of decomposition, postmortem changes in the dead man was found. Buddhist ascetic, born in 1852. Was known during his lifetime. No information on his relatives, Dashi Dorzho grew up an orphan, allowing believers attribute to him an extraterrestrial origin. Since 1911. for six years he was head of Russian Buddhists. He died in 1927. Meditating in lotus position. The body was placed in a pine box, which will deceased opened in 1955 and 1973 he., To ensure that it remains uncorrupted. After 2002. deceased, without creating special conditions placed under glass in a monastery - in public. Study of hair and nails mummies showed that their protein structure, such as a living person. Scientific explanation for the phenomenon is not found (though believers thorough research conduct not given), and hundreds of pilgrims to worship the immortal body pulled lamas in Buryatia in Ivilginski temple (Buddhist monastery).

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