Social events in Luxor surrounding the
discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun
November 1922 - March 1923
from the scrapbook of John Nissen Deacon, MC, MB, BS
"They represent a wonderful collection of well organised papers of the time"
The Countess of Carnarvon
Oxford University's Griffith Institute have very kindly put a link to this page at their own
website."Thank you for preparing these articles".
Furthermore a BBC film featuring Dr. Elizabeth Frood of The Griffith Institute
on "Tutankhamun in colour" can be visited at
Tutankhamun in colour
Excavating the archives of the man who uncovered Tutankhamun’s tomb
El País
.jpg)
.jpg)
My father John Nissen Deacon (1892-1959), educ. Epsom College & Royal London Hospital, was an ENT surgeon and Medical Director of Edgware General Hospital (1927-1957) who served in WWI with the RAMC at the Somme (where he was awarded the MC at Oppy Wood), Ypres, Arras and, later, in Italy.
From the end of the war through to 1920/21, and after Italy, he was appointed Medical Officer attached to British Army GHQ in Cairo and throughout the winter of 1922/23 was in Luxor at the time of Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun. We have a treasured photo of him, following the discovery, as a guest at a lunch given by Lady Evelyn Herbert in the Valley of the Kings. This featured in a full-page feature in the The Times of 12th December 1922; sadly The Times have been unable to trace the original photo and we are still trying to find it at the museums in Oxford.
The Times had an exclusivity on the subject of the discovery itself. Nevertheless he wrote regularly during the winter of 1922/23 for the New York Herald as well as The Sphinx and The Egyptian Gazette and copies of the articles in our possession are featured here below. The photos are reproduced as best as possible not having been taken with professional equipment of the day. An item of considerable charm is the menu for Christmas Day at The Winter Palace Hotel.
Travelling with my late wife, Irene, we spent a week in Luxor in the spring of 1975. This was, of course, one of the most memorable experiences of my life having being brought up with my father's stories of the period and also armed with his 1908 edition of the Baedeker Guide (there was no entry on King Tutankhamun then, of course !). It is amusing to recall that the manager of the Thomas Cook office, on the bank of the river, offered me £200 for it ! Due to regrettable problems with our booking the management of the Winter Palace Hotel compensated by arranging a cabin for us on one of the two magnificent paddle-steamers then moored at the end of the hotel gardens (twin sister to the boat used in Death on the Nile) and where we were excellently looked after by the Club Méditerranée (at £12 per diem each, full board with a picnic lunch for taking across the river ever day) and with a cabin at near water level looking westward across the river !
Unable to stay at the Winter Palace, but armed with my scrapbook, eventually we both received a very warm reception from the then manager of the Winter Palace. This time around, and in spite of numerous requests, it is sad to report that no similar assistance, or even expression of interest, was forthcoming from the hotel management in the creation of this web page; almost as if they were unaware of the history surrounding their magnificent building ? John G. Deacon
1914 Aerial photo Luxor & Winter Palace Hotel
1914 Photo Temple of Karnak (Luxor)
25/11/1922 Luxor new arrivals (Egyptian Gazette & The Sphinx)
29/11/1922 Photos Entrance to the tomb & Evelyn Herbert's lunch
01/12/1922 Great finds at Luxor (Egyptian Gazette & The Sphinx)
05/12/1922 The Luxor discovery (Egyptian Gazette)
09/12/1922 Photo Valley of the Kings (The Sphinx)
12/12/1922 Luxor season (New York Herald & Egyptian Gazette)
16/12/1922 Season at Luxor (Egyptian Gazette)
19/12/1922 Luxor at its finest (New York Herald & Egyptian Gazette)
23/12/1922 Visitors throng to Luxor (New York Herald)
25/12/1922 Xmas menu (Winter Palace Hotel)
01/01/1923 Luxor's new season (New York Herald)
01/01/1923 Season at Luxor (Egyptian Gazette)
06/01/1923 Xmas tennis at Winter Palace (The Sphinx)
13/01/1923 Amusing account Luxor race meeting (The Sphinx)
13/01/1923 Upper Egypt season (The Sphinx)
15/01/1923 Americans at Luxor (New York Herald)
23/01/1923 Visitors see tomb's riches (New York Herald)
10/02/1923 Upper Egypt season (The Sphinx)
12/02/1923 Luxor season (Egyptian Gazette)
1914 Aerial photo Luxor & Winter Palace Hotel
.jpg)
1914 Photo Temple of Karnak (Luxor)
.jpg)
25/11/1922 Luxor new arrivals (Egyptian Gazette & The Sphinx)
.jpg)
29/11/1922 Photos Entrance to the tomb & Evelyn Herbert's lunch
.jpg)
01/12/1922 Great finds at Luxor (Egyptian Gazette & The Sphinx)
.jpg)
05/12/1922 The Luxor discovery (Egyptian Gazette)
.jpg)
09/12/1922 Photo Valley of the Kings (The Sphinx)
.jpg)
12/12/1922 Luxor season (New York Herald & Egyptian Gazette)
16/12/1922 Season at Luxor (Egyptian Gazette)
19/12/1922 Luxor at its finest (New York Herald & Egyptian Gazette)
23/12/1922 Visitors throng to Luxor (New York Herald)
25/12/1922 Xmas menu (Winter Palace Hotel)
01/01/1923 Luxor's new season (New York Herald)
01/01/1923 Season at Luxor (Egyptian Gazette)
06/01/1923 Xmas tennis at Winter Palace (The Sphinx)
J.N. Deacon, back row left, 2nd from end - with white foulard
13/01/1923 Amusing account Luxor race meeting (The Sphinx)
13/01/1923 Upper Egypt season (The Sphinx)
15/01/1923 Americans at Luxor (New York Herald)
23/01/1923 Visitors see tomb's riches (New York Herald)
10/02/1923 Upper Egypt season (The Sphinx)
12/02/1923 Luxor season (Egyptian Gazette)
An interesting article, in this centenary year of the discovery, has just appeared
on the BBC's website (11th May 2022)
New light on Tutankhamun discovery, 100 years on - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-61394416
The Luxor Winter Palace Hotel
The Winter Palace is a sweeping edifice built by the British in 1886, Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor stands on the banks of the Nile, amidst a lush tropical garden. Favored through the years by royalties and adventurers alike, it is an oasis of tranquility and an elegant gateway to the splendors of Pharaonic times.
Sofitel Luxor Winter Palace is ideally located on the banks of the infamous Nile, a stone’s throw from the soaring columns of the 3200 year-old Luxor Temple and a short ride from a plethora of other breathtaking sites. A haven of peace and refinement, with broad terraces from which to contemplate the intriguing views of Luxor.
In 1922, Howard Carter, the first Egyptology scientist, stood on the stairs of the Winter Palace to announce his discovery of the tomb of the King Tutankhamun.
The hotel offers 92 guest rooms including 7 magnificent suites, all overlooking either the mythical Nile or the sprawling hotel gardens.
Hotel Information
Sofitel Luxor Winter Palace is a 5-star luxury hotel built in 1886 by British explorers perched on the Nile River amid luxuriant tropical gardens and ancient temples.
This opulent Luxor hotel blends rich colonial design with the glory of Pharaonic times. In this 19thcentury palace once a winter retreat for the Egyptian royal family
Agatha Christie wrote her famed 1937 novel Death on the Nile. Illustrious dignitaries - from presidents and politicians to artists and celebrities - have stayed in this Luxor hotels sumptuous suites overlooking the Valley of the Kings. Archaeologist Howard Carter, discoverer of Tutankhamen's tomb, wandered the gardens of this sumptuous hotel in Luxor almost a century ago.
In the crystal-lit Victorian Lounge savor afternoon tea with decadent pastries and delicate sandwiches. In our historic 1886 restaurant fine-dine on gourmet French cuisine.
Relax by the pool or venture out to explore Luxor Temple or peruse Luxors bustling market steps away.
30 Classic rooms + 27 Superior rooms + 28 Luxury Rooms + 02 Prestige Suites + 02 Opera Suite and 02 Royal Suites used to accommodate royalties,politicians and celebrities through History,
From Gardens of Eden to the Heaven of Luxor
The Garden Story
A walk within the garden of Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, is a genuine sensational journey that the historical hotel’s guests and visitors would truly cherish as a precious memory. A brilliant landscape, where once upon time, the fairies and muses of beauty have orchestrated together a duplicate version of Eden on earth, and the gods and goddesses of nature and inspiration have watered its greenery for thirteen decades.
Stretched amongst 40,000 sqm, the ancient garden encompasses the offspring of a passionate nature that was nurtured by the majestic River Nile for thousands of years. The Story of the garden starts in the 19th century, after building the Winter Palace with a Victorian influence and an Italian craft, an ornamental supplement was an artistic necessity, to complete the most perfect picture of the royal residence that was fully established in 1886.
Since beauty is in the eye of its beholder, the mystical heaven is an indulging resort for most magnificent birds, such as the Hoopoe and the famous eagle family along with many other species. In addition, the garden is marvellously ornamented with a vast variety of floras and exotic flowers, which makes sunrise-watching ritual from the Winter Palace balconies, an everlasting memory for its watchers.