The mummified body of the Egyptian pharaoh reveals its secrets after 3500 years. The mummy of the ancient king Amenhotep I was digitally “unrolled” by Cairo scientists, revealing amazing details from his burial adornments to the teeth.
With a narrow chin, small nose and curly hair, Pharaoh Amenhotep I is similar to his father, King Ahmose I, according to radiologist Sahar Salim. Perhaps surprising for a man who lived about 3,500 years ago, he also had strikingly good teeth.
According to The Guardian, Salim talks about the mummified body of Pharaoh Amenhotep I, the warrior king, who was something of a mystery in the sense that his remains remain one of the few royal mummies that have not been revealed in our time. Salim, professor of radiology at the Cairo University School of Medicine, is part of the team that successfully deployed Amenhotep I, not physically, but digitally.
The results obtained using computed tomography (CT) 3D scanning technology are unprecedented and impressive. They tell in detail about the appearance of the ancient Egyptian king and the luxury of jewelry with which he was buried.
“We see that Amenhotep I was about 35 years old when he died,” says Professor Salim. – He was about 169 cm tall, circumcised and had good teeth. His burial cover contains 30 amulets and a unique golden belt with gold beads. Apparently, Amenhotep I physically resembled his father … he had a narrow chin, a small narrow nose, curly hair and slightly protruding upper teeth. “
Amenhotep I was the second king of the 18th Dynasty and ascended the throne after the death of his father Ahmose I. He ruled Egypt for about 21 years, from about 1525 to 1504 BC. His name means “Amon is pleased.” The throne name was Dzheserkare – “Holy Soul of Re” – and it is believed that his reign was peaceful, giving him time to focus on the administrative organization and construction of temples. Perhaps he ruled with his mother, Ahmose-Nefertari.
Professor Salim is the lead author of the study, published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. She said that the fact that the ancient monarch had such good teeth testifies to how “amazing” the mummification process was. “The mummified bodies are well preserved. Even tiny bones inside the ears have survived. Undoubtedly, Amenhotep’s teeth are well preserved. Many royal mummies had bad teeth, but Amenhotep I had good teeth. “
Egyptologists know from deciphered hieroglyphs that Amenhotep’s mummy was deployed by priests in the 11th century BC – during the 21st Dynasty – to repair the damage done by the tomb robbers. It was also speculated that they deployed it to reuse royal burial equipment or steal jewelry. Salim said that the results obtained from the computer study of the mummy refuted these theories and showed that the priests had the best intentions.
The original tomb of Amenhotep I has never been found. His mummy was discovered in 1881 in Luxor, where 21st Dynasty officials are known to have hidden the mummies of the pharaohs and nobles to protect them from tomb robbers.
The mummy of Amenhotep the First is kept in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It was not deployed because of the “perfect” linen covers, decorated with garlands of delphiniums, Egyptian hemp and safflower, and because of the beauty of his painted burial mask. When the tomb was first opened, a wasp was found inside, probably attracted by the scent of the garlands.
The research team found that Amenhotep’s brain was intact, unlike other kings, including Tutankhamun and Ramses II. Prof Salim said the project was exciting, “like unpacking a gift.”
The team hoped to find evidence of how Amenhotep died, but it turned out to be an impossible task. “We have not been able to find any wounds or injuries caused by the disease to explain the cause of death, with the exception of numerous posthumous mutilations allegedly committed by the grave robbers after his first burial,” said Professor Salim. “His entrails were removed by the first mummifiers, but not his brain or heart. We see that, at least for Amenhotep I, the priests of the 21st Dynasty lovingly repaired the damage done by the tomb robbers, restored his mummy to its former glory and kept the magnificent jewelry and amulets in place. “
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