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Nevine al-Aref and Menna Alaa al-Din – Ahram Online
The first-ever digital unwrapping of the mummy belonging to ancient Egyptian King Amenhotep I, has revealed the king’s facial features and details related to his mummification process and reburial.
“Digital scanning was part of a scientific study published in ‘Frontiers in Medicine’ scientific journal and conducted by renowned Egyptologist, Zahi Hawass, and Cairo University radiology professor, Sahar Saleem, who is also an international expert in the radiology of antiquities”, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Using modern technology, Saleem was able to digitally unwrap the mummy, which was hidden under its intact wrappings and funeral mask, without physically touching it”, the statement read.
The study, which involved the use of x-ray technology and CT scanning, revealed for the first time King Amenhotep I facial features, his age, the state of his health at the time of death, his mummification and reburial conditions.
“The facial features of King Amenhotep bear a resemblance to those of his father Ahmose I. The scans revealed that Amenhotep died at the age of 35”, Hawass noted.
The scan also suggested that he did not die of disease or injury and revealed details about the embalming and mummification process.
“The Osiris position, with forearms crossed over the body, began with King Amenhotep I; as the position has never been seen in the mummies of kings who preceded him”, the study revealed.
The brain was not removed during the mummification process, unlike most kings of the New Kingdom, including Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The detailed three-dimensional radiographs showed the presence of 30 amulets inside the mummy, and a belt under the body made up of 34 gold beads.
King Amenhotep I was the son of King Ahmose I, the conqueror of the Hyksos and founder of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt. Amenhotep succeeded his father and ruled Egypt for 21 years from 1525 to 1504 BC in the 18th dynasty.
The mummy of King Amenhotep I was discovered in 1881 in the royal cache at Deir-El Bahri in Luxor. Priests from the 21st dynasty reburied the mummies of many previous kings and queens to protect them from tomb theft.
