特别广播英语第 261 课：What Is the Truth behind the Mummy's Curse?
都是法老王诅咒搞的鬼？-1

For over a century, tales of Egyptian mummies seeking revenge over their disturbed tombs have excited the curiosity of people around the world. 100多年来，埃及木乃伊向盗墓者报复的传说激起了全世界人的好奇心。

However, according to British archaeologist Dominic Montserrat, curses that protect the remains of ancient Egyptians are simply an invention of storywriters. 然而根据英国考古学家多米尼克·蒙瑟雷特的说法，保护古埃及人遗骸的诅咒只是小说家的一个创造。

Montserrat has found that the idea of a curse was created 180 years ago by novelist Jane Loudon. 蒙瑟雷特发现这种诅咒的构想是小说家简·劳敦在180年前创作的。

In 1821, Loudon got the idea for a horror novel while watching an exhibition of mummies being unwrapped in London. 1821年当劳敦在伦敦观看一个解开木乃伊裹布的展示时，便想到这个构思来写恐怖小说。

Her novel featured a mummy coming back to life and seeking revenge against an archaeologist. 她的小说表现了一个木乃伊复活并向考古学家复仇。

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. 19世纪60年代末，木乃伊复仇的构想演变成为木乃伊诅咒的观念，并在被许多英美小说家采用后，已蔚然成风。

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. 在埃及图坦克哈门王（塔特王）的陵墓被发现后，另一位作家玛丽·柯瑞里发出警告：擅闯者将严惩不怠。

Stories of mummy curses were widespread in the early 20th century. 20世纪初木乃伊诅咒的故事广为流传。