Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

The Mummy's Curse (Classic)

Feb 10, 2023

Delve into the sensational history of Tutankhamun's tomb, where superstitions of a deadly curse loomed large. Discover the tragic tales linked to a cursed coffin and its connection to the Titanic. Uncover the fascinating effects of belief on health, from the placebo to nocebo. Explore how sensational journalism shaped perceptions of the pharaoh's legend. And finally, unravel the myths surrounding the mummy's curse and the intriguing narratives that transformed real events into haunting folklore.

37:25

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Curse of Amun-Ra's Coffin

15min

The Mind's Power: From Competitiveness to Placebo

8min

The Intricacies of Perception: Placebo, Nocebo, and Modern Algorithms

5min

Unraveling the Pharaoh's Curse

8min

Debunking the Myths of the Pharaoh's Curse

2min

Debunking Myths of the Mummy's Curse

4min

A hundred years ago, the Tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun was officially opened - despite the widely held belief that disturbing the remains of the Egyptian pharaohs could incur a deadly curse. Why did a team of archeologists risk inciting the wrath of King Tutankhamun by entering his burial chamber? And how many of them met a premature end for their impudence?

For a full list of sources for this episode, go to timharford.com

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