Indeed, the horrifying expression on an Egyptian mummy’s face may be explained by a gruesome death.
The mummy, whose remains were found in the ancient city of Thebes in the 1930s, was discovered in a burial chamber dating back 3,500 years. With an open-mouthed expression that conveys either pain or fear, the unnamed female mummy has been nicknamed “The Screaming Woman.”
Research suggests that her facial expression was caused by a rare muscle reaction known as cadaver convulsion, which occurs at the time of death under extreme physical and mental stress. More details about this finding can be found here.
On August 2, Sahar Saleem and Samia El-Merghani shared these groundbreaking discoveries in the field of medicine.
Saleem, a radiologist at Cairo University in Egypt, collaborated with El Merghani, an anthropologist and mummy conservator at the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Despite ongoing research, the exact cause of the Screaming Woman’s death remains a mystery. However, evidence suggests that her mummification process was meticulous and costly, indicating that the embalmer who worked on her did not simply leave her mouth open by mistake.
An examination using CT scans revealed that none of her internal organs had been removed, a departure from typical Egyptian embalming practices. Skin, hair, and wig samples from the mummy were examined under a microscope, along with an analysis of the chemicals used. These tests showed the use of juniper resin and frankincense on her skin and hair, as well as juniper resin and henna for hair dyeing. Her braided wig, made from dyed black date fibers, symbolized youth in ancient Egypt.
All these details suggest that the embalmers caring for the mummy would have closed her mouth if possible, indicating that her haunting expression might have been captured at the moment of her death.
Source: www.snexplores.org
