Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "George Herbert 5th Earl of Carnarvon" - New World

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[[Image:Carnarvon.jpg|thumb|250px|Lord Carnarvon, who was the chief financial backer on many of [[Howard Carter]]'s Egyptian excavations.]]
 
[[Image:Carnarvon.jpg|thumb|250px|Lord Carnarvon, who was the chief financial backer on many of [[Howard Carter]]'s Egyptian excavations.]]
  
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'''George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon''' (June 26, 1866 – April 5, 1923) was an English aristocrat best known as the financier of the excavation of the Egyptian New Kingdom Pharaoh [[Tutankhamun]]'s tomb in [[Egypt|Egypt's]] [[Valley of the Kings]].  
+
'''George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon''' (born June 26, 1866 – died April 5, 1923) was an [[England|English]] [[aristocracy|aristocrat]] and an amateur [[archaeology|archaeologist]], best known as the financier of the excavation of the Egyptian New Kingdom Pharaoh [[Tutankhamun]]'s tomb in [[Egypt]]'s [[Valley of the Kings]].  
  
−
Born at the family home, [[Highclere Castle]], in [[Hampshire]] on June 26, 1866, George Herbert was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, succeeding to the [[Carnarvon]] title in 1890. On June 26, 1895 Carnarvon married one Almina Victoria Maria Alexandra Wombwell, daughter of Marie Boyer, the wife of Frederick Charles Wombwell, but her real father was possibly [[Alfred de Rothschild]], the unmarried member of the prominent [[Rothschild banking family of England]] who made Lady Carnarvon his heiress.
+
==Biography==
 +
 
 +
Lord Carnarvon was born at the family home, Highclere Castle, in Hampshire, [[England]], on June 26, 1866. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, [[Cambridge University|Cambridge]], succeeding to the "Carnarvon" title in 1890. On June 26, 1895 Lord Carnarvon married Almina Victoria Maria Alexandra Wombwell, daughter of Marie Boyer, the wife of Frederick Charles Wombwell, but her real father was possibly [[Alfred de Rothschild]], the unmarried member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England who made Lady Carnarvon his heiress.
 
   
 
   
−
Exceedingly wealthy, Lord Carnarvon was at first best-known as an owner of race-horses and as a reckless driver of early automobiles, suffering - in 1901 - a serious motoring accident in [[Germany]] which left him significantly disabled.
+
Exceedingly wealthy, Lord Carnarvon was at first best-known as an owner of race-horses and as a reckless driver of early [[automobile]]s, suffering - in 1901 - a serious motoring accident in [[Germany]] which left him significantly [[disabiity|disabled]].
 +
 
 +
In 1902, Lord Carnarvon established Highclere Stud to bred [[Thoroughbred]] racehorses. In 1905, he was appointed one of the Stewards at the new Newbury Racecourse. His family has maintained the connection ever since. His grandson, Henry George Reginald Molyneux Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, was Racing Manager to Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] from 1969, and one of Her Majesty's closest friends.
 +
 
 +
To maintain his health, which seriously suffered after the automobile accident, Lord Carnarvon started to spend more time in the mild climate of [[Egypt]]. He visited Egypt for the first time in 1903, and after that frequently wintered there. He however found the life in Egypt dull, and engaged in collecting local artifacts as a hobby. He however soon became fascinated with [[Egyptology]] and started to pursue it more enthusiastically. 
 +
 
 +
Lord Carnarvon moved to the Winter Palace in [[Luxor]] to be able to oversee his team of archeologists excavating in the area of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. He built a big cage, protected by nets from mosquitoes and dust, which served as the shelter for him and his wife, and from which he could monitor the progress of the diggings. His wife would occasionally accompany him, "dressed for a garden party rather than the desert, with charming patent-leather, high-heeled shoes and a good deal of jewelry flashing in the sunlight" [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/carnarvon.htm]. After months of excavations, the expedition ended up in failure. This however did not discourage Carnarvon. He just realized that he needed somebody who would have expertise to find the right location for digging. That led him to meet [[Howard Carter]].
 +
 
 +
In 1907, with Lord Carnarvon’s money, Carter started to dig in the West Bank of Luxor (ancient [[Thebes]]). He first discovered the decorated tomb of Tetiky, a 18th Dynasty mayor of Thebes, and then a tomb with two wooded tablets, containing the precepts of Ptahhotep, instructions for [[morality|moral]] guidance. In the next several years, Carnarvon and Carter unearthed a whole series of important finds, among others several private tombs dating from the end of the Middle Kingdom to the beginning of the New Kingdom, and the “lost” temples of [[Queen Hatshepsut]] and [[Ramesses IV]].
 +
 
 +
In 1914 Carnarvon and Carter found their first royal tomb, the burial of [[Amenophis I]] (1514-9l3 B.C.E.), ancestor of [[Tutankhamun]], and his mother Ahmose-Nofretiri. After that they turned, in 1915, to the [[Valley of the Kings]]. Although it has been taught that most of the sites in the Valley have been exhausted, Carnarvon and Carter believed otherwise. They started to work on the tomb of [[Amenhotep III]], the grandfather of king Tutankhamun, and found numerous smaller artifacts.
 +
 
 +
During the [[World War I]] both Carter and Carnarvon got stranded with diplomatic work and the excavations fell in the second plan. They continued with diggings after the war, but with failing results. By 1921 Carnarvon had lost all hope of finding anything valuable in the [[Valley of the Kings]]. In 1922, burdened by the lack of finances, he called Carter to his estate in [[England]] to tell him that he would cut financing the further excavations. Carter however somehow managed to persuade Carnarvon for one more expedition.
 +
 
 +
It was on February 17, 1923 that they together opened the tomb of boy-Pharaoh [[Tutankhamun]] (1332-1223 B.C.E.) of the 18th Dynasty, in exposing treasures unsurpassed in the history of [[archaeology]]. The tomb was completely intact, pilled to the ceiling with treasures. The discovery made Carter and Carnarvon world famous over night, but Carnarvon did not live enough to enjoy that fame.
 +
 
 +
Two months later, Carnarvon died suddenly, giving popular credence to the story of the "Curse of Tutankhamun," the "[[Curse of the Pharaohs|Mummy's Curse]]." His death is most probably explained by [[Bacteremia|blood poisoning]] (progressing to [[pneumonia]]) after accidentally shaving a [[mosquito]] bite infected with [[erysipelas]]. The rumors have spread that five to two in the morning, the lights in [[Cairo]] (where he died in a hospital) went out and plunged the people into darkness. Reportedly, at the same time, back at his home, his dog gave out a great howl and died. His colleague and employee, Howard Carter, the man most responsible for revealing the tomb of the young king, lived safely for another sixteen years.
 +
 
 +
Carnarvon's tomb, appropriately for an archaeologist, is located within an ancient hill fort overlooking his family seat at Beacon Hill, Burghclere, [[England]].
  
−
In 1902, the 5th Earl established Highclere Stud to bred [[Thoroughbred]] racehorses. In 1905, he was appointed one of the Stewards at the new [[Newbury Racecourse]]. His family has maintained the connection ever since. His grandson, Henry George Reginald Molyneux Herbert, [[Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon|7th Earl of Carnarvon]], was Racing Manager to Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] from 1969, and one of Her Majesty's closest friends).
+
==Legacy==
  
−
The 5th Earl was an enthusiastic amateur [[Egyptology|Egyptologist]], undertaking in 1907 to sponsor the [[excavation]] of the royal tombs at [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] by [[Howard Carter (archaeologist)|Howard Carter]]. It was in 1922 that they together opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in the [[Valley of the Kings]], exposing treasures unsurpassed in the history of [[archaeology]]. Several months later, Carnarvon died suddenly, giving popular credence to the story of the "Curse of Tutankhamun," the "[[Curse of the Pharaohs|Mummy's Curse]]." His death is most probably explained by [[Bacteremia|blood poisoning]] (progressing to [[pneumonia]]) after accidentally shaving a [[mosquito]] bite infected with [[erysipelas]]. At five to two in the morning, the lights in Cairo (where he died in a hospital) went out and plunged the people into darkness. Reportedly, at the same time, back at his home, his dog gave out a great howl and died. His colleague and employee, Howard Carter, the man most responsible for revealing the tomb of the young king, lived safely for another sixteen years.
+
The discovery of [[Tutankhamun]]'s tomb was an immediate sensation, ensuring Lord Carnarvon enduring fame. News and reports about the discovery evoked public interest for [[Egyptology]], and the [[museum]]s that housed some Egyptian artifacts became again full of people. The Egyptian design found in the tomb became inspiration for the [[fashion design]]ers, especially those in line with [[Art Deco]]. The Egyptian motifs became central for the lines of clothes, jewelry, and furniture.  
  
−
Carnarvon's tomb, appropriately for an archaeologist, is located within an ancient hill fort overlooking his family seat at [[Beacon Hill, Burghclere, Hampshire]].
+
[[Howard Carter]] spent almost 10 years supervising the removal of artifacts from the Tutankhamun’s tomb (3,500 in all), most of which ended up in the [[British Museum]] in [[London]] or the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] in [[New York City]].  
  
 +
After the sudden death of Lord Carnarvon, people spread the rumors of the curse of the king Tutankhamun. The legend of the curse, or the “Curse of the Mummy” as it was called, was exploited in numerous movies and books.
 +
 +
==Publications==
 +
 +
* Carnarvon, George H. & Carter, Howard. 2003 (original published in 1912). ''Five years' explorations at Thebes: A record of work done 1907-1911''. Library of ancient Egypt. London: Kegan Paul International. ISBN 0710308353
 +
 +
==References==
 +
 +
* Carter, Howard, & A. C. Mace. 1923. ''The tomb of Tut.ankh.amen, discovered by the late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter''. New York: George H. Doran.
 +
* Carter, Howard. 1998 (original published in 1924). ''Tutankhamen: The politics of discovery''. London: Libri. ISBN 1901965007
 +
* Dunn, Jimmy. ''Lord Carnarvon''. On www.touregypt.com. Retrieved on May 23, 2007, <http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/carnarvon.htm>
 +
* ''Fifth Earl of Carnarvon''. Today in Science History, on www.todayinsci.com. Retrieved on May 24, 2007, <http://www.todayinsci.com/cgi-bin/indexpage.pl?http://www.todayinsci.com/C/Carnarvon_Earl/Carnarvon_Earl.htm>
 +
* Greenberg, Lorna, & Margot F. Horwitz. 2001. ''Digging into the past: Pioneers of archeology''. Lives in science. New York: F. Watts. ISBN 0531118576
 +
* Reeves, C. N., & George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert Carnarvon. 1989. ''Ancient Egypt at Highclere Castle: Lord Carnarvon and the search for Tutankhamun''. Newbury, Berkshire: Highclere Castle.
 +
* Strudwick, Nigel. 2001. ''The legacy of Lord Carnarvon: Miniatures from Ancient Egypt and the Valley of the Kings.'' Wyoming: University of Wyoming Art Museum.
 +
* Wallace, Edgar. 1922. ''Lord Carnarvon''. John Bull. [Analytical entry]. London: Odhams Press.
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
 +
* [http://www.unmuseum.org/mummy.htm Curse of the Mummy] – On the curse of king Tutankhamun
 +
* [http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/Front/Egypt.htm Egyptian exhibition] – Egyptian artifacts at Lord Carnarvon’s castle in England
 +
* [http://www.bookrags.com/research/finding-the-tomb-of-king-tutankhame-scit-061/ Finding the Tomb of King Tutankhamen] – On Carter and Carnarvon’s discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen 
 +
* [http://www.todayinsci.com/cgi-bin/indexpage.pl?http://www.todayinsci.com/C/Carnarvon_Earl/Carnarvon_Earl.htm Lord Carnarvon] – Biography on Today in Science website
 +
* [http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/carnarvon.htm Lord Carnarvon] – Biography on Touregypt.net
 +
* [http://www.kingtut.org/about_the_exhibition/the_story_of_king_tut The Story of King Tut] – On king Tutankhamun
 +
 +
==Extra==
  
 
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{{s-start}}
 
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{{s-reg|gb}}
 
{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon|Henry Howard Herbert]]}}
 
{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon|Henry Howard Herbert]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Earl of Carnarvon]]|years=1890&ndash;1923}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Earl of Carnarvon]]|years=1866&ndash;1923}}
 
{{s-aft|after=[[Henry George Alfred Marius Victor Francis Herbert, 6th Earl of Carnarvon|Henry George Herbert]]}}
 
{{s-aft|after=[[Henry George Alfred Marius Victor Francis Herbert, 6th Earl of Carnarvon|Henry George Herbert]]}}
 
{{end}}
 
{{end}}
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{{Credit1|George_Herbert,_5th_Earl_of_Carnarvon|79505954|}}
 
{{Credit1|George_Herbert,_5th_Earl_of_Carnarvon|79505954|}}

Revision as of 00:49, 24 May 2007


Lord Carnarvon, who was the chief financial backer on many of Howard Carter's Egyptian excavations.

George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon (born June 26, 1866 – died April 5, 1923) was an English aristocrat and an amateur archaeologist, best known as the financier of the excavation of the Egyptian New Kingdom Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings.

Biography

Lord Carnarvon was born at the family home, Highclere Castle, in Hampshire, England, on June 26, 1866. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, succeeding to the "Carnarvon" title in 1890. On June 26, 1895 Lord Carnarvon married Almina Victoria Maria Alexandra Wombwell, daughter of Marie Boyer, the wife of Frederick Charles Wombwell, but her real father was possibly Alfred de Rothschild, the unmarried member of the prominent Rothschild banking family of England who made Lady Carnarvon his heiress.

Exceedingly wealthy, Lord Carnarvon was at first best-known as an owner of race-horses and as a reckless driver of early automobiles, suffering - in 1901 - a serious motoring accident in Germany which left him significantly disabled.

In 1902, Lord Carnarvon established Highclere Stud to bred Thoroughbred racehorses. In 1905, he was appointed one of the Stewards at the new Newbury Racecourse. His family has maintained the connection ever since. His grandson, Henry George Reginald Molyneux Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, was Racing Manager to Queen Elizabeth II from 1969, and one of Her Majesty's closest friends.

To maintain his health, which seriously suffered after the automobile accident, Lord Carnarvon started to spend more time in the mild climate of Egypt. He visited Egypt for the first time in 1903, and after that frequently wintered there. He however found the life in Egypt dull, and engaged in collecting local artifacts as a hobby. He however soon became fascinated with Egyptology and started to pursue it more enthusiastically.

Lord Carnarvon moved to the Winter Palace in Luxor to be able to oversee his team of archeologists excavating in the area of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna. He built a big cage, protected by nets from mosquitoes and dust, which served as the shelter for him and his wife, and from which he could monitor the progress of the diggings. His wife would occasionally accompany him, "dressed for a garden party rather than the desert, with charming patent-leather, high-heeled shoes and a good deal of jewelry flashing in the sunlight" [1]. After months of excavations, the expedition ended up in failure. This however did not discourage Carnarvon. He just realized that he needed somebody who would have expertise to find the right location for digging. That led him to meet Howard Carter.

In 1907, with Lord Carnarvon’s money, Carter started to dig in the West Bank of Luxor (ancient Thebes). He first discovered the decorated tomb of Tetiky, a 18th Dynasty mayor of Thebes, and then a tomb with two wooded tablets, containing the precepts of Ptahhotep, instructions for moral guidance. In the next several years, Carnarvon and Carter unearthed a whole series of important finds, among others several private tombs dating from the end of the Middle Kingdom to the beginning of the New Kingdom, and the “lost” temples of Queen Hatshepsut and Ramesses IV.

In 1914 Carnarvon and Carter found their first royal tomb, the burial of Amenophis I (1514-9l3 B.C.E.), ancestor of Tutankhamun, and his mother Ahmose-Nofretiri. After that they turned, in 1915, to the Valley of the Kings. Although it has been taught that most of the sites in the Valley have been exhausted, Carnarvon and Carter believed otherwise. They started to work on the tomb of Amenhotep III, the grandfather of king Tutankhamun, and found numerous smaller artifacts.

During the World War I both Carter and Carnarvon got stranded with diplomatic work and the excavations fell in the second plan. They continued with diggings after the war, but with failing results. By 1921 Carnarvon had lost all hope of finding anything valuable in the Valley of the Kings. In 1922, burdened by the lack of finances, he called Carter to his estate in England to tell him that he would cut financing the further excavations. Carter however somehow managed to persuade Carnarvon for one more expedition.

It was on February 17, 1923 that they together opened the tomb of boy-Pharaoh Tutankhamun (1332-1223 B.C.E.) of the 18th Dynasty, in exposing treasures unsurpassed in the history of archaeology. The tomb was completely intact, pilled to the ceiling with treasures. The discovery made Carter and Carnarvon world famous over night, but Carnarvon did not live enough to enjoy that fame.

Two months later, Carnarvon died suddenly, giving popular credence to the story of the "Curse of Tutankhamun," the "Mummy's Curse." His death is most probably explained by blood poisoning (progressing to pneumonia) after accidentally shaving a mosquito bite infected with erysipelas. The rumors have spread that five to two in the morning, the lights in Cairo (where he died in a hospital) went out and plunged the people into darkness. Reportedly, at the same time, back at his home, his dog gave out a great howl and died. His colleague and employee, Howard Carter, the man most responsible for revealing the tomb of the young king, lived safely for another sixteen years.

Carnarvon's tomb, appropriately for an archaeologist, is located within an ancient hill fort overlooking his family seat at Beacon Hill, Burghclere, England.

Legacy

The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb was an immediate sensation, ensuring Lord Carnarvon enduring fame. News and reports about the discovery evoked public interest for Egyptology, and the museums that housed some Egyptian artifacts became again full of people. The Egyptian design found in the tomb became inspiration for the fashion designers, especially those in line with Art Deco. The Egyptian motifs became central for the lines of clothes, jewelry, and furniture.

Howard Carter spent almost 10 years supervising the removal of artifacts from the Tutankhamun’s tomb (3,500 in all), most of which ended up in the British Museum in London or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

After the sudden death of Lord Carnarvon, people spread the rumors of the curse of the king Tutankhamun. The legend of the curse, or the “Curse of the Mummy” as it was called, was exploited in numerous movies and books.

Publications

  • Carnarvon, George H. & Carter, Howard. 2003 (original published in 1912). Five years' explorations at Thebes: A record of work done 1907-1911. Library of ancient Egypt. London: Kegan Paul International. ISBN 0710308353

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Carter, Howard, & A. C. Mace. 1923. The tomb of Tut.ankh.amen, discovered by the late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter. New York: George H. Doran.
  • Carter, Howard. 1998 (original published in 1924). Tutankhamen: The politics of discovery. London: Libri. ISBN 1901965007
  • Dunn, Jimmy. Lord Carnarvon. On www.touregypt.com. Retrieved on May 23, 2007, <http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/carnarvon.htm>
  • Fifth Earl of Carnarvon. Today in Science History, on www.todayinsci.com. Retrieved on May 24, 2007, <http://www.todayinsci.com/cgi-bin/indexpage.pl?http://www.todayinsci.com/C/Carnarvon_Earl/Carnarvon_Earl.htm>
  • Greenberg, Lorna, & Margot F. Horwitz. 2001. Digging into the past: Pioneers of archeology. Lives in science. New York: F. Watts. ISBN 0531118576
  • Reeves, C. N., & George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert Carnarvon. 1989. Ancient Egypt at Highclere Castle: Lord Carnarvon and the search for Tutankhamun. Newbury, Berkshire: Highclere Castle.
  • Strudwick, Nigel. 2001. The legacy of Lord Carnarvon: Miniatures from Ancient Egypt and the Valley of the Kings. Wyoming: University of Wyoming Art Museum.
  • Wallace, Edgar. 1922. Lord Carnarvon. John Bull. [Analytical entry]. London: Odhams Press.

External links

Extra

Peerage of Great Britain


Preceded by:
Henry Howard Herbert 		Earl of Carnarvon
1866–1923 		Succeeded by: Henry George Herbert

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