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From Oldest To Mysterious: Seven Egyptian Mummies And Their Amazing Secrets
When we hear ¡®Egypt¡¯ the first thing that comes to our minds is the pyramids and the mummies that lie under them. The massive tombs give us a glimpse into a civilization that existed thousands of years ago and help us better understand the life of the people in that period. Here are seven mummies that had some rather interesting stories surrounding their discovery into the new world we live in today.
When we hear ¡®Egypt¡¯ the first thing that comes to our minds is the pyramids and the mummies that lie under them. The massive tombs give us a glimpse into a civilization that existed thousands of years ago and help us better understand the life of the people in that period. Here are seven mummies that had some rather interesting stories surrounding their discovery into the new world we live in today.
The mummy that may have killed its discoverer
The mummy of King Tutankhamun was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his partner Lord Carnavon in 1922. Tutankhamun took the reigns of the kingdom at the delicate age of nine and ruled for a decade, only after dying due to injuries sustained during hunting. However, surprisingly, a few months after this discovery, Lorn Carnavon died due to an infected mosquito bite, sparking the myth of the mummy¡¯s curse.?
The mummy that was issued a passport
The mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II -- one of the most powerful rulers of the Egyptian civilization --? had suffered severe deterioration 3000 years after his death and required restoration. Experts at that time wanted to transport the mummy to Paris, France where they would work on it and bring it back to its original state.?
However, at this time Egypt¡¯s rules required anybody -- either living or dead -- to possess a passport in order to leave the nation. After a ton of paperwork, he was finally the first mummy ever to have been issued a passport in 1974. The passport had his occupation as ¡®King (Deceased)¡¯.
The mummy that was hidden elsewhere
Hatshepsut was another female mummy discovered by Howard Carter in 1902 however, her sarcophagus was empty. He unearthed another tomb that had two coffins -- one of the queen¡¯s wet nurse and a second unidentified mummy. Research in 2006 by former Minister of State for Antiquities, Affairs Zahi Hawass using a molar tooth found in a wooden box with Hatshepsut¡¯s name, fit perfectly in the unidentified mummy¡¯s upper jaw, concluding the search.?
The pregnant mummy
Researchers in Poland came across an ancient Egyptian mummy that was mummified when she was pregnant. Such a mummy was discovered for the very first time in the world. Analysis by the researchers showed that the woman would have been around 20 to 30 years old. Looking at the size of the child¡¯s skull, researchers suggested that the lady would have been 26 to 28 years pregnant.?
The finest discovered tomb in the valley of kings
Menmaatre Seti I was discovered by ?mil Brugsch on June 6, 1881, in the mummy cache at Deir el-Bahri. Today it¡¯s placed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. He was the Pharoh during the 19th Dynasty of Egypt and the father of Ramesses II. His tomb even today is described as the finest discovered in the Valley Of Kings. The huge sarcophagus is carved in one piece and is intricately decorated on every surface. The sarcophagus is placed in Sir John Soane's Museum in London.?
The oldest mummy to be ever discovered
The oldest mummy ever to be discovered is the Spirit Cave Mummy. It was discovered in 1940 in Spirit Cave in Fallon, Nevada, United States, by archaeologists Sydney and Georgia Wheeler. Analysis by experts shows that the mummy is nearly 10,600-year-old and is related to a Native American tribe -- the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada. As per experts, the individual was 40 years old when he died.?
A well full of 13 Egyptian mummies
Just last year, researchers in Egypt discovered a 40 feet deep well with 13 unopened? Egyptian coffins which experts believe have been sealed inside for nearly 2,500 years. The discovery was made at the Saqqara site, around 20 miles south of Egypt¡¯s capital. This site is also known for hotspots like Step Pyramid which is known to be the world¡¯s oldest.?
When we hear ¡®Egypt¡¯ the first thing that comes to our minds is the pyramids and the mummies that lie under them. The massive tombs give us a glimpse into a civilization that existed thousands of years ago and help us better understand the life of the people in that period. Here are seven mummies that had some rather interesting stories surrounding their discovery into the new world we live in today. Read More
The mummy of King Tutankhamun was discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter and his partner Lord Carnavon in 1922. Tutankhamun took the reigns of the kingdom at the delicate age of nine and ruled for a decade, only after dying due to injuries sustained during hunting. However, surprisingly, a few months after this discovery, Lorn Carnavon died due to an infected mosquito bite, sparking the myth of the mummy¡¯s curse. Read More
The mummy of Pharaoh Ramses II -- one of the most powerful rulers of the Egyptian civilization -- had suffered severe deterioration 3000 years after his death and required restoration. Experts at that time wanted to transport the mummy to Paris, France where they would work on it and bring it back to its original state. However, at this time Egypt¡¯s rules required anybody -- either living or dead -- to possess a passport in order to leave the nation. After a ton of paperwork, he was finally the first mummy ever to have been issued a passport in 1974. The passport had his occupation as ¡®King (Deceased)¡¯. Read More
Hatshepsut was another female mummy discovered by Howard Carter in 1902 however, her sarcophagus was empty. He unearthed another tomb that had two coffins -- one of the queen¡¯s wet nurse and a second unidentified mummy. Research in 2006 by former Minister of State for Antiquities, Affairs Zahi Hawass using a molar tooth found in a wooden box with Hatshepsut¡¯s name, fit perfectly in the unidentified mummy¡¯s upper jaw, concluding the search. Read More
Researchers in Poland came across an ancient Egyptian mummy that was mummified when she was pregnant. Such a mummy was discovered for the very first time in the world . Analysis by the researchers showed that the woman would have been around 20 to 30 years old. Looking at the size of the child¡¯s skull, researchers suggested that the lady would have been 26 to 28 years pregnant. Read More
Menmaatre Seti I was discovered by ?mil Brugsch on June 6, 1881, in the mummy cache at Deir el-Bahri. Today it¡¯s placed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. He was the Pharoh during the 19th Dynasty of Egypt and the father of Ramesses II. His tomb even today is described as the finest discovered in the Valley Of Kings. The huge sarcophagus is carved in one piece and is intricately decorated on every surface. The sarcophagus is placed in Sir John Soane's Museum in London. Read More
The oldest mummy ever to be discovered is the Spirit Cave Mummy. It was discovered in 1940 in Spirit Cave in Fallon, Nevada, United States, by archaeologists Sydney and Georgia Wheeler. Analysis by experts shows that the mummy is nearly 10,600-year-old and is related to a Native American tribe -- the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada. As per experts, the individual was 40 years old when he died. Read More
Just last year, researchers in Egypt discovered a 40 feet deep well with 13 unopened Egyptian coffins which experts believe have been sealed inside for nearly 2,500 years. The discovery was made at the Saqqara site, around 20 miles south of Egypt¡¯s capital. This site is also known for hotspots like Step Pyramid which is known to be the world¡¯s oldest. Read More