Screaming Mummy From Ancient Egypt Died In Agony
Researchers say the famous ‘screaming mummy’, known for its contorted facial expression, probably died in agonizing pain.
The woman may have suffered a cadaveric spasm before her death
In 1935, archaeologists discovered a horrifying mummy in the tomb of Senmut at Deir el-Bahari. The woman’s body lay in a wooden coffin, wearing a black wig, silver and gold rings. But the most eerie thing was the expression on her face, as if frozen in a scream.
Possible cause of death
According to one theory, this facial expression could have been intentionally given by embalmers. Some researchers have also suggested that the mummifiers simply forgot to cover her mouth.
A 2020 study found that the ancient Egyptian woman may have died of a massive heart attack. Analysis revealed she showed signs of severe atherosclerosis affecting her arteries.
Scientists then also suggested that her agony had been immortalized by the mummification process.
Confirmation of the theory
In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, researchers from Cairo University have examined a 3,000-year-old mummy in detail using computed tomography, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.
The team suggests that the woman may have suffered from cadaveric spasm, a rare form of muscle contraction during death agony. Muscles can contract for up to 36 hours; researchers speculate that the body may have been mummified before the muscles relaxed. Embalmers may have been physically unable to close her mouth.
During her lifetime, the woman was about 1.54 meters tall. She died at the age of 48.
Chemical analysis of her skin revealed that she was embalmed using aromatic frankincense resin and juniper berry oil, both of which were considered expensive and usually brought to Egypt from far away.
According to the researchers, “the mummifiers were concerned with making the body look beautiful for the afterlife,” so it’s unlikely that anyone accidentally forgot to cover the woman’s mouth.
The researchers also found no incisions on the body, indicating that the brain, heart, lungs, liver and other internal organs were preserved inside the mummy. This approach is considered unusual: during the classical mummification process of that era, all internal organs were removed except the heart.
Scientists still do not know to whom exactly the body of the “screaming mummy” belongs. They also could not reveal the exact cause of her death.
Source: Screaming Mummy From Ancient Egypt Died In Agony
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