Mummy of Queen Nodjmet

The mummy of Queen Nodjmet was found in the Deir el-Bahari Royal Cachette (DB320). The mummy had been given artificial eyes, made of white and black stones. The eyebrows are real hair and she wears a wig. Her body and parts of her face were coloured to give her a more lively appearance.

Nodjmet was an ancient Egyptian noble lady and/or Queen of the late 20th Dynasty or early 21st Dynasty of Egypt, the wife of Herihor, High Priest of Amun at Thebes. She may have been a daughter of Ramesses XI. Early in her life, she held titles such as Lady of the House and Chief of the Harem of Amun.

With her mummy, two Books of the Dead were found. One of them, Papyrus (EA10490), now in the British museum, belonged to “the King’s Mother Nodjmet, the daughter of the King’s Mother Hrere”.

The other Book of the Dead from her tomb can also be found in the British Museum’s collection (EA10541) and is one of the most beautifully illustrated papyri from Ancient Egypt.

Nodjmet had several children: Heqanefer, Heqamaat, Ankhefenmut, Faienmut, and the future High Priest of Amun/King Pinedjem I.

Rarely displayed, the version of this funeral text that accompanied Queen Nodjmet into the afterlife – richly illustrated on a piece of papyrus more than four meters long and 3,000 years old – will appear in the British Museum exhibition.

The body of the queen was filled with sawdust and her hands were set by her sides. Between the layers of her wrappings, a heart scarab and four small figurines of the Four Sons of Horus were found.

The embalming wound, as well as her eyes, nose, mouth and ears were covered by wax. The mummy of Queen Nodjmet holds significant historical and archaeological importance.

Royal Lineage

Queen Nodjmet was a member of the prestigious 21st Dynasty, which played a crucial role in the political landscape of ancient Egypt. Her mummy provides valuable insights into the lineage and connections of this dynasty.

Historical Context

The Third Intermediate Period was a time of political fragmentation and instability in Egypt. Queen Nodjmet’s mummy helps historians and archaeologists understand the individuals and families involved in the power struggles of this era.

Artistic Representations

The mummy of Queen Nodjmet is adorned with intricate funerary jewellery and wrappings, showcasing the artistic and cultural practices of the time.

These details contribute to our understanding of ancient Egyptian burial customs and the craftsmanship of the period.

Scientific Analysis

Modern scientific techniques, such as CT scans and DNA analysis, have been applied to Queen Nodjmet’s mummy.

These studies provide valuable information about her health, cause of death, and familial relationships, shedding light on the medical and genetic aspects of ancient Egyptian society.

“The 21st Dynasty is known to Egyptology as the apex of mummification technique for a reason. For the first time, elites developed an interest in the preserved body’s discrete self-sufficiency.

At the close of the Bronze Age, we see a number of changes in the embalmer’s art. First, it became the norm to return internal organs to the body after preservation rather than interring them in separate canopic jars and chests.

21st Dynasty mummies were not split into different containers. Instead, when the embalmed organs were returned to the mummy, the corpse was intact and whole—that is, self-contained.

There were a number of other innovations: The natural and full appearance of the body was now restored.

The mummy of Nodjmet has packing under her cheeks to restore the fullness of the face, as well as external padding on the body to restore the lifelike quality of torso and limbs.

Previously, in the New Kingdom, a mummy’s skin was left slack and drawn, allowing desiccated flesh to sink into bones.

Now a more lifelike face was desired. 21st Dynasty embalmers also repaired any defects in the body and skin.

They painstakingly repaired tears with leather patches and plaster. They even fixed anatomical problems with additional limbs of wood.

The skin of the mummy was finished with a coating of plaster plus red or yellow paint, depending on the sex of the deceased.”

— Objectifying the Body: The Increased Value of the Ancient Egyptian Mummy during the Socioeconomic Crisis of Dynasty Twenty one, by Kathlyn Cooney

Nodjmet’s Mummification Technique

Nodjmet was one of the first mummies discovered at the Deir el-Bahari Cachette (TT320) in the 19th century.

The body is that of an old woman. She had been embalmed with a new mummification technique, which involved the use of fake eyes and the packing of the limbs.

The fake eyes were constructed out of black and white stones, in order to give the mummy a more life-like appearance. Her limbs and face were also colored to show appearance of liveliness.

Although the queen was an old woman, a wig and false eyebrows (made out of human hair) were placed to achieve a look of youthfulness.

Nodjmet’s body was disturbed in modern times. She has gashes on her forehead, nose, and cheeks from when thieves searched her body for valuables. The impression of jewelry on her right arm indicates that some valuables were stolen.

Queen Nodjmet’s mummy is significant for its historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific contributions.

It helps piece together the puzzle of ancient Egyptian history and provides a glimpse into the lives of royalty during the Third Intermediate Period.

Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, ca. 1069-945 BC. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 26215