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This woman and her horrified expression have been a mystery for nearly a century. Egyptian scientists scanned her mummified body and concluded that she died more than 3,500 years ago, screaming in agony…
It’s a mystery that has puzzled music lovers for nearly 90 years.Ancient Egypt A woman from all over the world MummifiedAnonymous, found with his other relatives in the tomb of Sénènmout at Thebes near Deir Elbahari Luxorwith its mouth open, has been frozen for 3500 years, immortalized for eternity. This oral posture is surprising, since the ancient Egyptians wanted the dead to present themselves in the best possible light for their journey into the afterlife, and therefore systematically kept their mouths shut. So why did this man escape customs, and strangely resemble the one depicted in the picture? ‘The Scream’ of Edvard Muncha sketch made about thirty years before the mummy was discovered?
A team of researchers, Sahar Saleem and Samia El-Merghani, from Cairo University’s Faculty of Medicine, studied the unfortunately frozen body at their own expense. Their results were Posted on August 2, 2024 In medical journals Medical Frontiers (Frontiers in Medicine). In their investigation, the researchers used paleoradiology to “Virtual autopsy” The infamous mummies. This non-invasive method allows the study of archaeological objects using radiographic techniques (X-rays and computer-assisted tomography (CAT)). This last tool provides information on the morphology and internal state of preservation of the mummies, the style of mummification, the state of health and the detection of possible causes of death.
Profile of the deceased
The mummy was about 48 years old when she died and was 1.58 meters tall. The researchers described her as “In good condition”The fact that it is not coated with strips facilitates its study, revealing “Her dark brown skin”The scientists noticed that his eyes were closed, his teeth were partially damaged, and he was missing several teeth.
“The mummy wore a two-part wig on each side of her head, braided with her loose hair.”which they detailed in their report. Using different paleoradiological techniques, they found that the woman had mild spinal arthritis but no atherosclerosis. However, surprisingly, the internal organs were still present in her body, although it is customary to remove all internal organs except the heart to optimize their preservation.
“In ancient Egypt, embalmers would take care of the body so that it would remain beautiful in the afterlife. That’s why they wanted to close the mouth of the deceased by fastening the jaw to the head of the deceased to prevent it from falling off normally during the last autopsy.Sahar Saleem, who co-led the investigation, explained: “The first observation showed that the anonymous woman’s mummification process was neglected and the embalmers did not make the effort to close her mouth.
READ ALSOEgyptologists Finally Discover the Secret of the ‘Screaming Mummy’
The results contradict our beliefs…
However, the quality of the ingredients used for embalming precludes this. “In fact, they mummified her and gave her expensive mourning clothes – two gold and silver rings and a long wig made of date palm fibers”.
The details showed the woman’s jaw was paralysed and unable to close. The report concluded that the 40-year-old must have died in extreme pain and suffered a rare form of muscle stiffness known as ‘rigor mortis’. “Corpse Spasm”occurs at the time of death. This little-known pathological phenomenon occurs after severe physical or emotional pain. As a result, the contracted muscles become rigid immediately after death. “Unlike rigor mortis, cadaveric spasm affects only one group of muscles, not the entire body.”meaning Sahar Salim.
Maybe it’s because of “something else”
However, the report’s conclusions did not convince Salima Ikram, professor emeritus at the American University in Cairo. She told the British daily protector Don’t think the embalmer wanted to preserve this spasm forever. “So I think (the look on his face) was due to something else.””, she explains, recalling that the drying process during mummification lasted 40 days. “Sure, they could have tried to rearrange his features” During this period.
For Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist accredited by the UK Home Office, the idea of corpses convulsing is controversial in itself, adding that he has never seen a convincing case. “I am open to the idea that this phenomenon exists, although it is certainly controversial”he declared protectorFor him, the explanation can be very simple: “I think the mouth just opened and ended up staying like that”.
Three “Screaming Mummies”
Although rare, this woman is not the only mummy Howl 7,000 others have been found. Sahar Salim and his colleagues have studied the body of Prince Pentawihr, believed to be the son of Pharaoh Ramses III, who was involved in a plot to murder his father. The scientists who studied him said his body was barely embalmed and his mouth remained open indefinitely, which could indicate he was being punished. Princess Meritamon, believed to be the sister of King Ahmes, who reigned from 1550 to 1525 B.C., was also frozen with her mouth permanently open.
But what could have caused the fatal pain of the anonymous mummy found among the relatives of the architect Senemute? The true story of this deceased person and the circumstances of her death remain a mystery that seems even more opaque and difficult to unravel…
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