Howard Carter Trivia Quiz

Answer: Painting

Howard Carter's father, Samuel John Carter, was an artist who specialised in animal paintings for the higher social classes. Whilst a boy, Howard Carter developed a talent in watercolour painting as well and, following in his father's footsteps, made it his career (mainly due to his limited education and social class standing).

However, this talent was soon seen by the Egypt Exploration Fund, London, who in fact was looking for an artist to work for them in Egypt. Impressed by Carters talent, the Fund offered him a job. Aged at only seventeen Carter was to help Percy E. Newberry with the epigraphic recording of tombs in Egypt, and so left for the 'mysterious land' in the autumn of 1891.

Answer: Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie

In 1892 Carter worked with Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie at El-Amarna, and developed invaluable archaeology experience. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (more commonly known as 'Flinders Petrie') was an English Egyptologist and pioneer of the systematic methodology in archaeology and the preservation of artifacts that we use still to this day.

It was because of Petrie and his methods that Howard Carter was so respected later on in life for his quality of work.

Answer: Inspector of Monuments in Upper Egypt and Nubia

As the Inspector of Monuments in Upper Egypt and Nubia, Carter was responsible for all excavations in that area on behalf of the Egyptian Antiquities Service. To many, he did the job well. However, Carter resigned from his position on the Antiquities Council in 1903 as a result of an affray between Egyptian site guards and some French tourists.

His professional career and his life essentially were in crisis.

Answer: George Herbert

George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, came to Egypt due to health problems caused by an automobile crash in 1901. He soon became fascinated by Egyptology, and wished to get involved. He was introduced to Howard Carter by Gaston Maspero, and didn't take long for them to get digging. Carnarvon financed Carter's work in the Valley of the Kings from 1914.

Answer: World War I

Carnarvon was able to secure a concession to excavate the Valley of the Kings in 1914. However this was quickly postponed by the outbreak of World War I soon after.
The coronation of King George V was three years prior, in 1911.

Answer: The workers' water boy

Early in the morning of the 4th November, 1922, a young boy (the working gang's water boy) was poking around in the sand with a stick. What he discovered was the first step to THE single greatest archaeological discovery ever made.

Tutankhamun's tomb went untouched for almost 3000 years due to the later huts of the workmen who built the tomb of Rameses VI being built on top of it.

Answer: "Yes, wonderful things"

As Carter peered through the tiny hole he made into the sealed doorway, with a candle as his only source of light, he, as told in his diary, recalls seeing the 'glint of gold' everywhere.

Answer: Lady Evelyn Herbert

Carter made a hole in the sealed doorway just big enough for the party to squeeze through. At first Lady Evelyn was the only one small enough to fit through the hole, however, making sure to keep it at a minimum, Carter made it larger so that he and the other two could fit through.
Carter wanted to make as minimal damage as possible to the tomb, which explains his efforts in creating the hole.

Answer: That it would contain a mummy

Carter hoped for a tomb that was intact. He wished for treasure (or 'artefacts', as he would have put it), however his greatest hope was that it would still possess the body of a king. From numerous other finds in the Valley turning out totally empty, Carter knew that he was probably asking too much. Nevertheless, Carter's hard work was rewarded in the end with the body of Tutankhamun still lying where it had for more than 3000 years.

Answer: Revealing of Tutankhamun's mummy

In 1925, Carter finally got the opportunity to open the last of the many other coffins that encased the body of Tutankhamun. Carter became the first person in more than 3000 years to lay eyes on his ancient body.