4.6 • 9.2K Ratings
🗓️ 18 September 2025
⏱️ 54 minutes
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Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the discovery in 1922 of Tutankhamun's 3000 year old tomb and its impact on the understanding of ancient Egypt, both academic and popular. The riches, such as the death mask above, were spectacular and made the reputation of Howard Carter who led the excavation. And if the astonishing contents of the tomb were not enough, the drama of the find and the control of how it was reported led to a craze for 'King Tut' that has rarely subsided and has enthused and sometimes confused people around the world, seeking to understand the reality of Tutankhamun's life and times. With Elizabeth Frood Associate Professor of Egyptology, Director of the Griffith Institute and Fellow of St Cross at the University of Oxford Christina Riggs Professor of the History of Visual Culture at Durham University and a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford And John Taylor Curator at the Department of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum Producer: Simon Tillotson Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Melvyn Bragg and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world.
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| 0:41.8 | Hello, I'm Simon, producer of In Our Time. |
| 0:44.6 | Following Melvin's announcement that he's stepped down from In Our Time after almost 27 years, |
| 0:50.3 | we're taking the time to celebrate his outstanding work with some favourite episodes from our archive, |
| 0:56.3 | and thanks to everyone who's been in touch. |
| 0:58.5 | In due course, we'll return with new programmes and a new presenter, but till then, here's Melvin. |
| 1:04.4 | Hello, in 1922, archaeologists found Tutankham's tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, |
| 1:10.5 | unopened for more than 3,000 years. |
| 1:13.5 | As their leader Howard Carter reported, it contained wonderful things, |
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