The Curse of the Pharaohs refers to the belief that whomever disturbs the mummies of the Pharaohs are cursed to die. Many tombs of Pharaohs have curses written on or around them, warning against entering.

The belief was brought to many people's attention due to the deaths of some members of the team of Howard Carter, who opened the tomb of King Tut in 1922, launching the modern era of Egyptology. Most notable was the mysterious death of Lord Carnarvon. However, subsequent historical study has shown that only one or two of the dozens of people present at the opening died within a few years. Carter himself lived for decades.

Some have speculated that deadly fungus could have grown in the enclosed tombs and been released when they were open to the air. (Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, favored this idea, and speculated that the mold had been placed deliberately to punish grave-robbers.)

Partly as a result, many modern archaeologists wear protective clothing when opening long-closed burial chambers.