Wig of Nauny

This wig was found lying behind the head of Nauny’s mummy in her inner coffin. From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahari, Tomb of Meritamun (TT 358, MMA 65), inside coffin, MMA excavations, 1928–29.

The wig is made from plaits of human hair, which were fastened at the top with a cord. The hair was treated with beeswax and covered with a layer of animal fat, a common practice in Ancient Egypt to preserve and style hair.

The wig’s plaits are notably well-preserved, and the tousled appearance still holds strong thousands of years after it’s creation, showcasing the skill of ancient Egyptian hairstylists. The treatment with beeswax and animal fat not only preserved the hair but also gave the wig a particular sheen and possibly helped in maintaining its shape over centuries.

Nauny’s wig is a testament to the sophisticated hair care and funerary practices of the Ancient Egyptians, offering insight into their daily life and their belief in the importance of appearance extending into the afterlife.

Nauny was an Ancient Egyptian princess from the Twenty-first Dynasty during the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1070-945 B.C.). She was likely the daughter of High Priest and later Pharaoh Pinedjem I, who was the de facto ruler of Southern Egypt before proclaiming himself pharaoh in 1054 B.C. Her mother was Tentnabekhenu, known from Nauny’s funerary papyrus. Nauny held several titles, including “King’s Daughter of His Body,” “Singer of Amun” and “Lady of the House“.

Nauny is particularly noted for her burial in Theban Tomb TT358 at Deir el-Bahri, which originally belonged to Queen Ahmose-Meritamen of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The tomb was restored during Pinedjem’s reign for Nauny’s burial. The complexity of her burial arrangements suggests she was of considerable importance, despite the tomb not being originally intended for her.

Her funerary equipment included numerous ushabtis—small figurines meant to serve the deceased in the afterlife—totaling 393, divided among seven shabti boxes. Additionally, her burial contained a copy of the Book of the Dead (also known as the Book of Coming Forth by Day), which was inscribed on a papyrus scroll placed inside a hollow wooden Osiris figure. Nauny’s coffins, made of sycamore wood, were originally crafted for her mother and repurposed for her burial.

Nauny’s mummy was examined by Herbert E. Winlock and Derry in the late 1920s, revealing she was short and obese, similar to other family members, and lived to about 70 years old. This indicates she led a relatively long life for her time.

The details about Nauny provide a window into the life, practices, and familial relationships of the Egyptian elite during a transitionary period in Egypt’s history.

Living to 70 is a great feat for a person in the ancient world. The life expectancy in Ancient Egypt varied significantly over different periods and social classes. Members of the royal family, nobles, and high priests often had access to better nutrition, medical care, and living conditions, which could result in longer lifespans. Some pharaohs and high officials are known to have lived into their 60s or even 70s.

For the majority, life was harder, with more exposure to disease, malnutrition, and labour-intensive work, leading to shorter life spans. A key factor in the averages of Ancient Egyptian life span through the ages was the very high infant mortality rate; many children did not survive past their first few years. If a person survived to adulthood, their life expectancy could be significantly higher.

It is thought that by the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period, due to further advancements in various fields, some individuals, particularly those from higher social classes, could live into their 50s or 60s, with the average life expectancy for those who made it past childhood could be in the 40s or 50s.