Mummy of King Ahmose I

The mummy of king Ahmose I was discovered in the Royal Cache of Deir el-Baharai, in 1881. He was buried within a coffin inscribed with his name, and his wrappings also bore his name in hieratic script, as well as a garland of Delphinium flowers wrapped around his neck.

King Ahmose I holds a place of great reverence in Egyptian history because he restored strength, unity, and independence to the nation at a critical moment. Living around 1550 BC, Ahmose rose to power during a time when northern Egypt had been controlled by the Hyksos, a foreign group that ruled parts of the country for nearly a century.

Determined to reclaim Egypt’s sovereignty, Ahmose led a series of decisive military campaigns that successfully expelled the Hyksos from the Nile Delta. His victory not only liberated the Egyptians but also revived a sense of cultural pride and identity that had been weakened during foreign rule.

After removing the Hyksos, Ahmose focused on reuniting Upper and Lower Egypt, restoring order after years of political instability. His leadership marked the beginning of the New Kingdom, a golden age in Egyptian civilization known for its flourishing arts, wealth, and powerful pharaohs.

By rebuilding damaged temples, supporting religious revival, and strengthening the military, Ahmose laid the foundations for an era that would produce some of Egypt’s most iconic rulers. To later generations, he was remembered not only as a conqueror, but as a restorer-a king who brought Egypt back to greatness.

The mummy of the king was eventually unwrapped by Egyptologist Gaston Maspero in 1886. Maspero wrote the following about the mummy;

“…he was of medium height, as his body when mummified measured only 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) in length, but the development of the neck and chest indicates extraordinary strength. The head is small in proportion to the bust, the forehead low and narrow, the cheek-bones project and the hair is thick and wavy. The face exactly resembles that of Tiûâcrai [Seqenenre Tao] and the likeness alone would proclaim the affinity, even if we were ignorant of the close relationship which united these two Pharaohs.”

It must be noted that Egyptologist Edward Wente, proposed that the mummy was possibly not of a royal due to the lack of the famous royal arm pose.

The mummy is now on display at Luxor Museum.