Imnhotep is a High Priest who had an affair with pharaoh Seti's mistress, Anck-su-namun. Anck-su-namun kills the pharaoh when he discovers the affair and then kills herself. Imhotep, after stealing the book of the dead and trying to resurrect Anck-su-namun, is caught by the Pharaoh’s guards and forced to endure the ritual of Hum Dai - Imhotep's tongue is cut out and he is mummified, alive, buried with a swarm of scarabs. Imhotep is buried under high security - if he were ever to be released, he would unleash a wave of destruction and evil...

Richard 'Rick' O'Connell, an American, Treasure Hunter, was serving in the French Foreign Legion