Strangest Things: King Tut’s Mask, Terror Balloons, Witch Bottle (Full Episode) | Nat Geo

Key Concepts

• Tutankhamun's Mask: The iconic gold death mask of the pharaoh, its authenticity and original ownership are questioned.
• Cartouche: An oval or rectangular inscription containing royal names in ancient Egypt.
• Ankhkheperure: A royal title found on a wooden box in Tutankhamun's tomb, potentially belonging to a different pharaoh.
• Neferneferuaten/Nefertiti: A queen, possibly Tutankhamun's stepmother, whose name is linked to the mystery pharaoh Ankhkheperure.
• Balloon Bombs: Japanese incendiary and anti-personnel devices launched via balloons during World War II, utilizing the jet stream for intercontinental delivery.
• Jet Stream: A high-altitude, fast-moving air current discovered by Wasaburo Oishi, exploited by Japan for bomb delivery.
• Witch Bottle: A 16th-17th century European artifact, typically a ceramic bottle filled with human bodily fluids and objects, used for apotropaic magic against witchcraft.
• Apotropaic Magic: Rituals or objects used to ward off evil or bad luck.
• Sympathetic Magic: The belief that one can influence a person or object through a connection or resemblance to it.
• Cunning Folk: Folk healers or practitioners of folk magic in early modern Europe.

Tutankhamun's Mask: A Question of Identity

The Iconic Artifact and Initial Doubts

The golden mask of Tutankhamun, a renowned artifact from ancient Egypt, is presented as one of the most significant discoveries of the 20th century. Discovered approximately 100 years ago, it continues to captivate with its intricate craftsmanship, made of gold and adorned with precious stones and glass. The headdress features a cobra and vulture, symbolizing kingship, and a cartouche on the left shoulder identifies the owner. However, despite its apparent perfection, close examination reveals imperfections, prompting some archaeologists to question its authenticity or original purpose.

The Significance of the Cartouche and the Discovery of Flaws

The mask's identification as Tutankhamun's is strongly supported by the cartouche, which bears the royal title "Nebkheperure," Tutankhamun's royal name. This, along with numerous other depictions of Tutankhamun, solidifies the belief that the mask represents the boy king. The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul needed to recognize the body in the afterlife, making the mask's likeness crucial.

However, during restoration work in 2015, conservators noticed stray marks and dents around the cartouche. While initially dismissed as damage from handling or placement, a significant problem arose: similar marks were found inside the cartouches of other items from the tomb. This led to the extraordinary possibility that the mask might have been altered.

The Theory of a Swapped Face

Using X-ray imaging, it was revealed that Tutankhamun's face is a separate piece, soldered to the rest of the mask. Noteworthy differences in the gold alloy used for the face compared to the headdress suggest that these components were crafted separately. This observation fuels the speculation that the face might have been swapped for a previous one, with the marks on the cartouche potentially being an erased name of the original owner.

Potential Original Owners

Evidence from a wooden box found in the tomb points to three royal names: Tutankhamun's father, Akhenaten; a "mystery pharaoh," Ankhkheperure; and Queen Merataten, Tutankhamun's half-sister. Comparison of the marks on the mask's cartouche with the cartouche of Ankhkheperure shows a significant match.

Further investigation into Ankhkheperure reveals that this throne name is associated with Neferneferuaten, who some Egyptologists identify as Queen Nefertiti, Tutankhamun's stepmother. This raises the possibility that Tutankhamun's death mask was originally made for a woman.

Supporting Evidence for a Female Original Owner

Several artifacts in the tomb exhibit female characteristics:

• A statue of Tutankhamun standing on a panther has features resembling breasts.
• Four canopic jars, containing Tutankhamun's organs, have masculine tops depicting his face but lack the extensive decorations, such as long wings reaching the ground, expected for a male. These wings only extend to the shoulder blades, suggesting they were more suited for a queen.

The Rush for Tutankhamun's Burial

The theory that some artifacts were originally created for a woman is supported by the circumstances of Tutankhamun's death. He died young (around 19), suggesting an unexpected and rushed burial. Evidence of wet plaster and microbial stains on the tomb walls indicates that the tomb may have been sealed while the plaster was still wet, implying haste. It is plausible that in this rush, the tomb of a lesser royal, like Nefertiti, was emptied to prepare Tutankhamun's burial. The long-standing mystery of Nefertiti's tomb further supports her potential disappearance from historical records.

Counterarguments and Lingering Doubts

Despite the compelling evidence, counterarguments exist. Depictions of pharaohs with female characteristics, such as breasts, might be symbolic, representing fertility, as seen in depictions of Akhenaten. The multi-piece construction of the mask is also not unusual for complex artifacts. The alignment of marks on the cartouche with Nefertiti's name could be a coincidental pattern recognition by the human brain. Most Egyptologists currently remain convinced that the mask belongs to Tutankhamun.

The Japanese Balloon Bomb Campaign: Harnessing the Jet Stream

A Mysterious Contraption

A bizarre, chandelier-like device with medieval ropes and industrial components, weighing approximately 320 pounds and measuring 32 inches tall and 47 inches wide, is examined. It features two boxes filled with electrical equipment, an aluminum ring with 72 plugs, and 32 bags and six pipes of mysterious design.

An Anti-Personnel Bomb

Inside the ring of bags lies a 33-pound high-explosive bomb surrounded by metal rings designed to fire lethal shrapnel in all directions. This is an anti-personnel bomb, reconstructed from over 80 devices found scattered across North America.

Delivery by Air and the Jet Stream

The device's two boxes contain four aneroid barometric switches set to trigger at very low air pressure (about a third of an atmosphere), indicating deployment at high altitudes, around 30,000 feet. This suggests delivery by air, and indeed, thousands of such devices were found across North America, the United States, and Mexico in the 1940s.

The Sandbag Clue and Beach Sand

Below the base, an aluminum ring is attached to sandbags. Wires connect these bags to the ring via gunpowder plugs. When a barometric switch is tripped, the gunpowder ignites, releasing the sandbags. The sand within these bags contains diatoms, microscopic algae specific to different regions. Chemical analysis of the sand pinpointed its origin to two particular beaches on Honshu, Japan, the largest island of Japan, the Allies' greatest Pacific enemy in World War II.

Exploiting the Jet Stream

The barometric switches are set to jettison sandbags between 30,000 and 38,000 feet. This altitude range is significant because Japanese meteorologist Wasaburo Oishi discovered in the 1920s that an extremely rapid air current, the jet stream, blew directly from West to East at altitudes between 23,000 and 39,000 feet, reaching speeds of up to 275 miles per hour. This provided a direct route from Japan to the West Coast of North America.

The Element of Surprise: Esperanto and the Jet Stream

Crucially, in the 1940s, the existence of the jet stream was largely unknown to Western meteorologists. Wasaburo Oishi published his findings in Esperanto, a constructed language intended for universal communication. Due to the limited number of Esperanto speakers, his discovery remained largely unremarked upon internationally, gifting the Japanese empire a significant strategic advantage.

Navigating the Jet Stream

The jet stream is narrow, requiring the balloon to stay within this envelope for efficient travel. The journey could take 30 to 60 hours, encompassing both day and night. At night, cooler temperatures cause the balloon to shrink, potentially causing it to fall out of the jet stream. The barometric pressure switches are designed to prevent this by releasing ballast (sandbags) if the balloon descends too far, causing it to rise back into the jet stream. This ingenious system made the Japanese the inventors of the world's first intercontinental bomb.

The Incendiary Payload and Strategic Goals

The six metal tubes on the device are packed with thermite, a mixture of metal powders that, when heated, produces intense heat (up to 2,500 degrees Celsius). This white-hot flame was intended to start large fires, particularly in the heavily wooded Northwest of North America, to distract military forces.

The Impact of Weather and Psychological Warfare

Despite the ingenious design, the winter of 1944-45 was very wet, hindering the incendiary effectiveness. However, the balloon bombs served a different, terrifying purpose: psychological warfare. Their randomness, unpredictability, and silence made them instruments of terror, designed to frighten rather than solely kill. The unpredictability of their landing sites instilled fear.

The Limited Success and Tragic Consequence

Between November 1944 and April 1945, Japan launched approximately 9,000 balloon bombs, with only 285 reaching America. The rest were lost at sea or destroyed. US authorities, aware of the threat, suppressed news of the attacks to prevent panic and to keep the Japanese unaware of their success. This strategy worked until May 5th, 1945, when a family and five children were killed by an unexploded balloon bomb in Oregon, the only fatalities from enemy action on the US mainland during World War II.

The End of the Campaign

Following this tragedy, the US authorities began warning the public. The Japanese military, receiving no confirmation of their campaign's effectiveness, canceled the balloon bomb launches in April 1945. The war ended a few months later. The legacy of this campaign persists, with unexploded bombs still being discovered and detonated, such as one found by the Royal Canadian Navy in 2014.

The Greenwich Witch Bottle: A Supernatural Weapon

A Mysterious Ceramic Bottle

A simple ceramic bottle, approximately nine inches tall with a reddish-brown glaze, a rose on the front, and a bearded face on the neck, is examined. This is the Greenwich bottle, unearthed in London in 2004 by construction workers. It is identified as a Bartmann jug, common in the Rhineland between the 16th and 17th centuries, named after the German word for "bearded man."

Unusual Contents and the Presence of Sulfur

Unlike most Bartmann jugs, which are found empty, this one was corked and contained peculiar items: 12 nails, 8 pins, a leather heart pierced by a nail, fingernail clippings, human hair, and a questionable liquid. Chemical analysis of this liquid, identified as human urine, revealed the presence of sulfur, which is not normally found in urine. This suggests the sulfur was intentionally added.

Sulfur and Demonic Associations

In the 16th and 17th centuries, sulfur was known as "brimstone," a term associated with hell, damnation, and demonic forces due to its presence in volcanoes and its connection to violence and foul smells. This association links the bottle to supernatural or demonic influences.

Witchcraft and the Need for Protection

During the 16th and 17th centuries, people genuinely believed in the constant presence of demons and their partnership with humans who sought magical powers. Witchcraft was a common explanation for unexplained misfortunes like disease, warfare, and famine, and people needed to blame someone. Accusations of witchcraft could lead to hanging, with an estimated 400-500 people executed for it.

Apotropaic Magic and Witch Bottles

To protect themselves from the perceived horrors of witchcraft, people employed apotropaic magic, using objects or symbols to ward off evil. These symbols were often burned or etched onto entryways. Bottles like the Greenwich one were found in places where a household could be breached, such as chimneys, hearths, or wall spaces.

The Role of Metal and the "Witch Bottle"

The metal pins and nails inside the bottle are significant, as metal was believed to scare away spirits, both good and bad. This bottle is identified as a "witch bottle," a form of anti-witchcraft device.

Sympathetic Magic and the Trap Theory

The presence of bodily fluids and parts like urine, fingernails, and hair suggests the bottle was intended to represent the afflicted person, drawing on the principle of sympathetic magic. One theory posits that these items acted as bait to attract the witch. X-rays reveal that the pins and nails are strategically placed in the restricted neck of the bottle, designed to trap and impale the witch upon their attempted escape.

The Spell-Breaking Heart

The nail piercing the leather heart is interpreted as a "spell breaker," a magical means of deflecting malicious spells rather than an offensive weapon.

Cunning Folk and the Creation of Witch Bottles

Witch bottles were not homemade; they were created by university-educated physicians or folk healers known as "cunning folk." These individuals, like the documented Cunning Murrell, practiced folk magic and offered services such as finding lost property or detecting infidelity.

Activating the Counter-Spell

One method of using a witch bottle involved heating it over a fireplace. This was believed to activate the contents and throw the spell back at the witch who sent it, causing them pain and lifting the curse. However, this practice carried non-supernatural dangers, as evidenced by an 18th-century case where a man's attempt to use a similar jar over a fireplace resulted in an explosion and facial injuries.

The Owner's Affliction: Lice Infestation

Magnified examination of the hair revealed lice, suggesting the bottle's owner suffered from a severe lice infestation. This connection between vermin and witchcraft is strong, as witches were believed to torment victims by sending infestations of lice and fleas, reducing their lives to misery. The bottle's owner may have been attempting to cure themselves of a lice curse.

The Enduring Belief

The exact owner and intended recipient of the Greenwich witch bottle remain unknown. However, the belief in witches and witch bottles persisted for centuries, only fading in the early 20th century with the advent of social remedies like proper healthcare and pensions. The Greenwich bottle is thus seen as a 17th-century alternative to modern healthcare and financial security.