MovieChat Forums > The Mummy (1959) Discussion > Karnak

Karnak

posted 18 years ago by Markgw1966
5 replies | jump to latest

I DO love this movie, with one notable exception: the misuse of the name 'Karnak'.
Karnak is a location in Egypt, the modern name of the ancient Nesut-Towi, or variably, Ipet-Iset. It is one of the most impressive temple complexes in Egypt. Karnak is not, and never has been, the name of a god of Egypt.
There are plenty of Egyptian gods to choose from; why not actually pick one of them instead of incorrectly using the name of a place?

That has always annoyed me - but I'm picky about such things. If someone is going to write a screenplay using actual names, research needs to be done to assure authenticity regarding those names.

[–] ContinentalOp 17 years ago

I think they wanted a cruel God but didn't really want to defame old Egyptian deities...it is obviously deliberate.

Regards,
The Count

The Apple Scruffs Corps, 07

"Imagine"

[–] Pharaoh-in-de-Nile 14 years ago

They should have used Set/Sutekh really as "Karnak" is obviously based on that deity and his was, or at least became the "devil" og the Egyptians who killed the "Good-One" Osiris, so I doubt he or many Egyptian polytheits would be offended. But still their heart was in the right place and it was obviously for the reason of not defaming an ancient deity... even if Karnak isn't particularly bad as far as cuel Gods go!

"Nothings gonna change my world!"

[–] rarema 16 years ago

Well, Paris is the capital of France yet... =D

[–] vpilutis 12 years ago

Look what STARGATE SG1 did with Egyptian gods all from space and later on the Norse gods as well.
They left the other big 3 alone, gee I wonder why. lol

See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/

[–] larryloco5 9 years ago

4000 years ago would also be earlier than the 19th dynasty.