The seal of Tutankhamun’s tomb, before it was opened on November 4, 1922, remains one of the most iconic images in the history of archaeology. This ancient seal had remained untouched for an astonishing 3,245 years, preserving the tomb’s contents in their original state since the time of the young pharaoh’s burial.
The seal itself was a simple yet effective lock—an arm-shaped knot wrapped securely around one of the handles of the tomb’s entrance, reinforced with a clay stamp that bore the sacred image of Anubis, the jackal-headed god of mummification and the afterlife.
This lock, which had withstood the pᴀssage of time, was a testament to the ancient Egyptian belief in the sancтιтy of the afterlife. The presence of Anubis on the seal was particularly significant, as this deity was responsible for protecting the deceased and ensuring their safe journey to the next world. The very fact that this seal remained unbroken for over three millennia suggests that the tomb had largely escaped the attention of grave robbers who had plundered many other royal burial sites in the Valley of the Kings.
The man responsible for uncovering this long-lost burial site was English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter. After years of relentless searching, Carter and his team finally discovered the tomb of the young pharaoh, nestled deep within the Valley of the Kings. When Carter first laid eyes on the intact seal, he must have known that he was on the verge of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. This simple but powerful image—an unbroken seal protecting the eternal rest of a long-forgotten king—was the final barrier standing between the modern world and the secrets of ancient Egypt.
On that historic day, November 4, 1922, Carter took a pH๏τograph of the untouched seal before carefully beginning the process of opening the tomb. As he and his team worked to break the lock, they became the first people in over three millennia to enter the sacred space of Tutankhamun’s burial chamber. What lay beyond the entrance would shock and captivate the world—a treasure trove of gold, jewelry, statues, and ritual objects, all meant to accompany the young king on his journey to the afterlife.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb would go on to become one of the most famous archaeological finds in history, reshaping our understanding of ancient Egyptian culture and burial practices. Yet, before the world marveled at the golden mask, the chariots, and the countless treasures, it all began with a simple seal—an unbroken mark of protection that had remained in place for thousands of years, guarding the secrets of a boy-king until the moment history finally uncovered them.
