Famous for all eternity; Donald Trump only wishes he had this much bling Photo by v.williams46 Few historical figures are mired in as much mystery as the young boy king, Tutankhamun. Had he died in the 21st century, it's likely his face would have been plastered across celebrity gossip blogs (alongside pictures of his enormous treasure trove of wealth) and Internet forums endlessly circulating rumors regarding his cause of death. To this day, historians are still uncertain how Tutankhamun died so suddenly at age 19. However, had it not been for his untimely death, he might have been lost in historical obscurity; just another Egyptian pharaoh with a lot of pretty baubles. Sure, Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army is one of the greatest archeological discoveries of modern times, but did Steve Martin perform a song about him? British Egyptologist Howard Carter first discovered the steps to Tutankhamun's tomb under the remains of workers' huts in November of 1922, more than 3,000 years after it had first been sealed. A few weeks later on November 26, Carter and Lord Carnarvon entered the antechamber of the tomb, uncovering one of the most extensive and well-preserved burial sites of a pharaoh to date. Their discovery vaulted Tutankhamun out of royal anonymity and into the same sphere of other tragic historical figures such as Pocahontas, the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, and Princess Diana. Within a short period of time, Tutankhamun had gone from a blip in an ancient line of rulers, to a mysterious young king frozen inside a gilded fairytale. People love a good story, but there's something unique about that combination of wealth, privilege, and a life cut down at its prime that continues to pique our curiosity. Suggested Sites... Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs - official website of the touring exhibition. Tutankhamun at the Griffith Institute - pictures of the original excavation, excerpts from Howard Carter's diary, and maps of the site. Global Egyptian Museum - a virtual museum that gathers artifacts and pictures from all over the world. The Mysteries of King Tut - National Geographic's exploration on the boy king, with photos, stories, and more. Theban Mapping Project - a project to catalog tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Theban Necropolis.

Directory categories: Tutankhamun, The Curse of King Tut, Howard Carter, Egyptian History, Egyptology

Archived under: 1920s, Ancient History, Archaeology, Curses, Egypt, History, Museums, Royalty, Tutankhamun

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This is not a painting of a pipe. Born on November 21, 1898, Belgian painter René Magritte remains one of the most enigmatic and beloved artists of the 20th century. His most popular images place ordinary objects in extraordinary environments, and his paintings helped define the mid-century Surrealist movement led by André Breton. His pieces are now on display in some of the world's most renowned museums and institutions, and his work has had a marked influence on masters such as Ed Ruscha, Jasper Johns, and Andy Warhol, not to mention popular culture, music, and fashion. Though not much is known of Magritte's early life, one event seems to lend insight into his future life as an artist. At the age of 13, Magritte's mother succeeded in taking her own life after a number of failed attempts. The story goes that the young René was watching as his mother's lifeless body was pulled from the river in which she had drowned, her skirts twisted and wrapped around her head. Undoubtedly, this image would have had a profound effect on the artist, and many of his earlier works feature figures whose faces are cloaked in cloth, including the famous painting "Les Amants." Apocryphal or not, we can at least be certain that his mother's death had a formative effect on the young Magritte and influenced his fascination with the tension between reality and fantasy that marks his most well-known paintings. As is the case with many artists, Magritte wasn't able to subsist by merely selling his artwork. To make ends meet at various times in his life, he worked as a draughtsman in a wallpaper factory, created posters and slogans for advertising, and even served in the Belgian infantry. Later in his career, Magritte found some success as a forger of other artists' works, namely Picasso, Braque, and De Chirico, and even resorted to printing counterfeit money. But it's his vast oeuvre of paintings, drawings, and sculptural work that has made him a legend. In June of this year, a second museum bearing his name opened in Brussels, displaying over 250 of the artist's original works. The first, housed in his former Brussels residence, was recently robbed and the one stolen painting, known as "Olympia," is currently at large. Suggested Sites... Magritte Foundation - promotes research of the life and work of René Magritte and authenticates his artwork. The René Magritte Museum - occupies the house in which the Belgian surrealist painter worked nearly 24 years of his life. Musée Magritte Museum - the second Brussels-based museum honoring René Magritte. Wikipedia: René Magritte - overview of the life, career, and style of the painter known for his witty surrealist paintings. FamousPainter.com: René Magritte - features a biography of the artist, as well as selected images and bibliography.

Directory categories: René Magritte, Dada and Surrealism, Artists, Belgium, Art Prints

Archived under: Art Museums, Artists, Arts, Biographies, Rene Magritte, Surrealism

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The Tower as seen from the Thames -- the last view more than a few people had. (Photo by Les Hutchins) People tend to think of the Tower of London as a place of violence and bloodshed. It's understandable; after all, the Tower was the site of numerous murders and executions (including those of King Henry VI and Anne Boleyn), not to mention imprisonments (famous residents include Thomas More, Walter Raleigh, and Guy Fawkes). And it was also the setting of one of history's most infamous unsolved mysteries, the disappearance of King Edward V and his brother, Richard, the Duke of York, otherwise known as "the Princes in the Tower." Combine all of that, and it's obvious why the saying "sent to the Tower" evokes such fear. But the Tower's main purpose throughout history has been as a royal residence, rather than a prison (though criminals were imprisoned there as recently as 1952, when the mobster brothers the Kray twins called the Tower home). It was originally established as a fortress during the reign of William the Conqueror, and was later turned into a castle and home by Henry III. It also housed the royal menagerie, which included lions, leopards, camels, and even a polar bear! While that zoo no longer exists, the Tower is still home to an "unkindness" of ravens. Legend has it that if the ravens should ever leave the Tower, the entire structure -- and indeed Britain itself -- will collapse. Today, there are ten ravens in residence, whose care is paid for by the British government. Mostly a tourist attraction today, the Tower and its treasures, such as the Crown Jewels and the Royal Armoury, are protected by 35 Yeoman Warders, more popularly known as "Beefeaters." (The exact origin of this name is debated, but it may stem from the Middle Ages, when the guards were paid in rations of beef.) These retired military officers (traditionally all men until in 2007, when the first female guard was hired) live in the Tower proper with their families. One guard is given the title "Ravenmaster," and is responsible for the care of the Tower's avian tenants. But perhaps even more famous than its ravens and its Beefeaters are the Tower's other residents: its ghosts. Anne Boleyn (who carries "her head tucked underneath her arm"), the aforementioned princes, and Catherine Howard are all among the figures believed to haunt the Tower and its grounds. It's said to be the most haunted place in England, outranking even Stonehenge and Whitechapel (where the Jack the Ripper murders took place). If you visit the Tower today, you're seeing more than just some old buildings -- you're witnessing more than one thousand years of British history. Just watch out for bird droppings and headless ghosts! Suggested Sites... The Tower of London - official site for the Tower of London. Tower of London: Virtual Tour - take a look inside the Tower and learn more about its history and architecture. Camelot International: The Tower of London - site devoted to the Tower, run by its Yeoman Warders. CastleXplorer - explore Britain's many castles and discover more about their place in U.K. history. The British Monarchy - official site of the British Royal Family.

Directory categories: Tower of London, Castles, Middle Ages, London, UK Royalty

Archived under: Buildings, England, Hauntings, History, London, Museums, Prison, Royalty, Tourist Attractions, U.K. History, United Kingdom

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We're hoping we can avoid a jinx. (Photo by Pete) Over the past couple of days, we've asked our fellow Yahoo!s about some of their fears and phobias. Today, we'd like to deal with their superstitions -- and ways to ward off bad luck. Some of us have superstitions, rather than outright fears. Personally, I’m not superstitious, but my wife won't let me put shoes on the bed, and I won't walk under ladders, and will throw spilled salt over my shoulder and knock on wood to ward off anything untoward happening. Corinne: My mum always says that we shouldn't open an umbrella in the house, and never celebrate your birthday before the day. But, being French, we always have baguettes on the table -- though you should never place them upside down…. Adam: As a sailor, I have quite a few superstitions: never leave for a voyage on a Friday, never talk about lack of wind, and don't bring bananas on a boat. Randall: I obsessively knock on wood. When it came time to buy a wedding ring, I bought one that was made out of wood so that I could "knock on wood" wherever I am. Michelle: I'm not generally a superstitious person, but I do believe in jinxing things, especially traffic and baseball. When the Indians are winning or traffic is surprisingly light, any positive comment must be prefaced with, "I'm sure they're about to blow it, but..." or "I know we'll hit a traffic jam soon, but..." Failing to do this guarantees sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic while listening to the Yankees win the World Series. Liz: I fear that if I mention the possibility of something bad happening, it's more likely to happen. Wait -- forget I said that! We leave you with a pair of examples of arachnophobia that are frighteningly similar: Helene: I am afraid to death of spiders, small or large, hairy or not, and all the more since a "good" friend told me that we swallow three spiders while sleeping each year. Adrianna: I'm not scared of rats or snakes but I am deathly afraid of spiders. Even the tiniest spiders scare me, and I make sure when I'm walking to watch out for those sticky spider webs. But from a recent fact I read, I'm never more than ten feet away from a spider. Now that's a frightening thought. A frightening thought, indeed. Good luck to you all -- knock wood! Suggested Sites... All Recipes: French Baguettes - keep one in the house for good luck. Traditional Nautical Superstitions - no women, no whistling. Insecta-Inspecta: Arachnophobia - sorry, they're still creepy. Wikipedia: Baseball Superstitions - if the team is doing well, I can't change position. World Series.com - watch the horror for yourself.

Directory categories: Superstitions, Umbrellas, Traffic and Road Conditions, Major League Baseball, Spiders

Archived under: Bananas, Baseball, Curses, Phobias, Psychology, Sailing, Spiders, Superstition

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Who knows what lurks down that corridor? (Photo by insertinanename) Last Friday was Friday the 13th, an occasion that made us wonder how superstitious our fellow Yahoos! are. We learned that some of them have natural phobias, but today, we explore the ways in which the media have done their part to nurture our fears. JoAnne: When I was a kid, my mom and sister saw "When a Stranger Calls." They told me all about it when they got home. Ever since then, I have had phone phobia. That silence you get when a telemarketer's autodial catches you before they realize they have a connection? Storms that knock phone service out? Anytime there's no dial tone. Freaks. Me. Out. I couldn't even watch "The Ring" because it starts with scary phone things. Jasmin: I can't watch horror movies at night. I just can't. A movie that's delightfully creepy during the day will scare the living daylights out of me if I watch it at night. It's not during the movie that's the issue; it's afterwards, when the normal sounds of our house (like the dishwasher running) go from being soothing to a "Did-you-hear-that?!" Helene: When I was a kid, each time I watched "Jaws," I would put my hamster cage on the floor next to my bed, because I thought that if a shark was swimming under the carpet, he would eat the hamster first, and spare my life after that snack. And while some fears aren't directly related to movies, we can only imagine that they somehow inspired some folks to be afraid: Heather: Whenever I wake up from a particularly bad nightmare, I always have to check in the closet, under the bed, and lock the door to my bedroom. I'm terrified that there might be a murderer in my room, even though I've probably got a better chance of the ceiling caving in from an earthquake than being attacked by a serial killer. Emily: Zombies freak me out. Even though I know they're not real (right? Right?!). I like being able to hear cars on the road from my bedroom, because that's how I know the zombie apocalypse hasn’t started yet. And then there are some fears that are just common-sense: Chris: Dick Cheney, swing dance classes, and Cher. Coming up tomorrow: Ways we ward off bad luck. Suggested Sites... Phobialist - what are you afraid of? Fear Net - horror movie news and clips -- but don't watch them in the dark. Zombies on the Web - one-stop shopping for zombie info and facts. How to Prepare to Swing Dance - the horror! The horror! Rotten.com: Dick Cheney - maybe not all fears are irrational...

Directory categories: Superstitions, Horror Movies, Telephones, Sharks, Zombies

Archived under: Crime, Horror, Horror Films, Movies, Phobias, Serial Killers, Superstition, Telephones, Zombies

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