Mummies in ancient Egypt were typically placed in elaborate coffins and sarcophagi and buried in tombs, often accompanied by various funerary goods and offerings. The preservation of the body was crucial because ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife where the soul would need its physical form. Mummies were seen as vessels for the soul to continue its existence in the afterlife.
Measuring at 5’4.75 inches tall, the mummy of Maiherpri showcases a young man of approximately no more than 25-30 years of age. Sadly, little is known about Maiherpri, and the only sources found thus far that give us a little knowledge about him are the titles discovered within his tomb (KV36). Maiherpri’s name translates to...
The mummified skull of Amenhotep III, photographed by Grafton Elliot Smith in 1912. Originally buried in WV22 (Valley of the Kings), Amenhotep III’s mummy was moved in ancient times to Tomb KV35, the tomb of Amenhotep II, which was used by Egyptian priests around the Third Intermediate Period as a royal “mummy” cache (storage). Tomb...
Excavated by Dr David George Hogarth, the mummy of a man named Ankhef was discovered in Asyut, Egypt. Asyut Ancient Asyut was the capital of the Thirteenth Nome of Upper, c. 3100 B.C, on the western bank of the Nile. The two most prominent gods of ancient Egyptian Asyut were Anubis and Wepwawet, both funerary...
Takabuti was a young Theban woman who died in her twenties or early thirties towards the end of Ancient Egypt’s 25th Dynasty, c. 755-656 B.C. The daughter of a Priest of Amun named Nespara and a woman named Tasenirit, Takabuti is believed to have been a married woman who lived and died in Thebes. She...
This mummy belongs to a man called Nesmin; his name means “The One Who Belongs to (the god) Min.” He was a priest for Min in Akhmim, and from the inscription on his coffin, it is known that his father Djedhor was a priest as well, and that his mother Tadiaset was a musician for...
A cartonnage mummy mask belonging to a High Official found in the Asyut Necropolis of Upper Egypt. The mummy dates from the 11th-12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom, c. 2000-1980 B.C. The mask is now on display at The Walters Art Museum. 78.4 Another mummy mask with a similar bearded style was also discovered in...
Cartonnage shell containing the mummy of Kharushere, who held the office of Doorkeeper of the House of Amun. His parents were the Doorkeeper of the House of Amun, Bes, and the Mistress of the House, Chantress of Amun, Tanetheretib. The outer layer of Kharushere’s mummy consists of a large sheet. It is held in place...
King Seqenenre Tao II’s mummy was originally buried at Dra’ Abu el-Naga’, and later reburied at Deir el-Bahari in his original coffin. It was discovered in the Deir el-Bahari cache (“DB320”), revealed in 1881. The body of this king, who died in his forties, was poorly preserved. However, the brain is still in the cranial...
This mummy of a woman has a gilded, golden face and a wig of human hair adorned upon her head. Unfortunately, not much is known about this woman, only her head remains. Discovered in Egypt, bequeathed by (Major) Robert Grenville ‘John’ Gayer-Anderson, the head of the unknown woman now resides at The Fitzwilliam Museum, in...
The mummy of Yuya was found partially wrapped with only his torso being divested of wrappings by ancient robbers. When the body of Yuya was removed from his innermost coffin, a partially strung necklace composed of large gold and lapis lazuli beads was found behind his neck, where it had presumably fallen after being snapped...
