The plot begins with Tintin meeting an archaeologist looking for the lost tomb of a mysterious Pharaoh and is driven by the appearance of a number of cigars bearing mysterious -- seemingly ancient Egyptian -- symbols . Was as much an explorer and an archaeologist as a reporter . ' Tintinologist ' Jean - Marc Bernard wrote his favorite historical - adventure Tintin adventures . Herge interested in history and archaeology , influenced by discoveries of the past .
Was as much an explorer and an archaeologist as a reporter . ' Tintinologist ' Jean - Marc Bernard wrote his favorite historical - adventure Tintin adventures . Herge interested in history and archaeology , influenced by discoveries of the past .