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Was Suez Canal blocked due to 'Curse of The Pharaohs'? Internet blames latest Egyptian disasters on supernatural

On April 3, 2021, the 'Royal Parade', i.e., the ceremonial transfer of the royal mummies is scheduled to take place in Egypt

For six days, the Suez Canal in Egypt was blocked by an enormous container ship, resulting in a substantial loss in global trade. However, the blockage was not the only mishap witnessed by the North African nation in the past week. From a fatal train accident to fires and building collapses, Egypt experienced several disasters in the past few days. 

A section of social media users is blaming the 'Curse of the Pharaohs' as the supernatural cause behind all these disasters together. Incidentally, Egypt is planning a procession to transfer 22 royal mummies from one museum to another, which many have attributed as the cause of the consecutive disasters. Archaeologists, however, have refuted the claims stating that 'the occurrence of these accidents is just fate,' reported DailyMail. 

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What is the 'Curse of the Pharaohs'?

On Saturday, April 3, 2021, the much-awaited national event 'Royal Parade' - the ceremonial transfer of the royal mummies is scheduled to take place in Egypt. In this event, 22 ancient mummies and 17 royal tombs will be transferred from the Egyptian Museum near Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, to the west of the Nile River, reported AlBawaba.

The Parade will include the remains of King Ramesses II, Seqenenre Tao, Thutmose III, and Seti I, and queens Hatshepsut, Meritamen, the wife of King Amenhotep I and Ahmose-Nefertari, wife of King Ahmose. The entire event is believed to take around 40 minutes. 

However, before the event could take place, Egypt has already grabbed global headlines for a series of disasters affecting the country. Aside from the Suez Canal blockage, there was also the collapse of a multistoried residential building in Cairo that caused the death of 18 people. Another massive concrete pillar collapsed at a bridge construction site in Mariota. In addition, a tragic train crash occurred near Suhaj City that claimed 39 lives. Another massive fire broke out at a train station in Zagazig, which however was successfully extinguished later. 

Social media users have now linked the series of recent disasters with the legend of the curse of the pharaohs, which says, "'Death will come on quick wings for those who disturb the king's peace," reports DailyMail. The legend is interpreted as anyone disturbing the mummies of ancient Egypt will be plagued with a curse laid upon the remains during the burial by mythical priests. 

In 1922, more than 20 people who worked in the excavation of Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb died under mysterious circumstances, which substantiated the belief of the pharaoh's curse.  

"Maybe the curse of the Pharaohs is real after all"

Twitterati have engaged in the spread of supernatural speculations in the light of Egypt's recent mishaps. 

"Royal Egyptian mummy parade to be held in Cairo on 3 April
And this is the 3rd incident in less than 24 hours
A column of the Tersa Bridge collapsed in the Haram area of #Giza, #Egypt on a number of cars & pedestrians
Maybe the curse of the Pharaohs is real after all," tweeted one user. 

Another wrote, ""Death shall come on swift wings to him that toucheth the tomb of the pharaoh."- the curse of king tut's tomb.." One more user added, "Some say it’s the curse of the Pharaohs; the mummies are supposed to be transferred on 3 April." 

"The curse of the pharaohs or the mummy's curse is a curse alleged to be cast upon anyone who disturbs the mummy of an ancient Egyptian, especially a pharaoh. This curse does not differentiate between thieves and archaeologists, is claimed to cause bad luck, illness, or death," explained one Twitter user.

One user reassured, "An Egyptian famous of worshiping God Horus says he contacted the spirits of Egyptian Kings & Queens whose mummies will be transferred to Civilisation Museum says he had assurances that recent accidents aren't "Curse Of The Pharaohs" but work of countries & groups who hate Egypt."

Despite the social media speculations, historians and archaeologists have rejected the rumors. Historian Bassam El-Shammaa stated that deaths in 1922 have scientific explanations like germs, ammonia leak, and others.