Mummy of Ancient Pharaoh of Egypt Has Been Digitally Unwrapped

Amenhotep I reigned Egypt for about 21 years, between 1525 to 1504 BC. His original tomb has never been located. However, the mummy of the ancient pharaoh was found reburied in Luxor in 1881. Although his pristine mummy has never been unwrapped, CT scans have now allowed the scientists to examine the king’s skeleton. 

Egyptian scientists have unwrapped the 3,500-year-old royal without peeling away the embalming linen. Through advanced X-ray technology and computed tomography (CT) scanning, they could look at King Amenhotep I’s mummified body and its secrets. 

For the first time, we can get information about the mummy without disturbing it, according to Zahi Hawass, a renowned Egyptologist and one of the research authors. 

The findings were published in a study co-authored by Hawass and Dr. Sahar Saleem. Dr. Saleem is a radiology professor at Cairo University Department of Medicine. Through scanning technology, the scientists were able to glimpse the face of the ancient pharaoh. They also determined his age, height, and how healthy he was before his death. 

The 3D images generated through their study showed the facial features of the king. The images revealed that the royal has an oval face with a narrow chin, a small nose, and slightly protruding upper teeth. 

Based on the researchers’ analysis of his bones, the king was around 35 at his death. They also learned that he was in good health, with no diseases or injuries when he died. Researchers also found that his teeth were still intact. 

The researchers also discovered that the king’s brain was not removed during mummification. The study revealed that the ancient pharaoh was buried with 30 amulets or jewelry pieces and a belt with golden beads.  

The CT technology is usually used in clinical settings to examine the bodies of living humans, Saleem told NBC News. The technology can also help study mummies in a non-disruptive manner. CT scanning is now used to unwrap the mummies digitally. In that way, we can preserve our heritage and study them with non-invasive techniques, Saleem added. 

Their study on Amenhotep I’s mummified body took thousands of extremely thin CT images.

The images formed a complete 3D reconstruction of the king’s body when put together. Similar to slices of toast combined to make an entire loaf of bread, the technique allowed Saleem to remove the bandages digitally. It enabled her to visualize the amulets and the face of the mummy. 

Hawass said it is not the first time a mummy has been digitally scanned, but it is the first comprehensive research. In an audio message sent to NBC News via WhatsApp, he said he wanted to use the same technology in future studies. They plan to do the same research on all the royal mummies. 

Who is Amenhotep I?

Amenhotep I, also known as Amenophis I, was a king of ancient Egypt who reigned between 1525 to 1504 BC. He was the son of Ahmose I, the founder of the 18th dynasty. He successfully expanded Egypt’s boundaries in Nubia (modern Sudan). 

The biographies of two soldiers prove Amenhotep’s battles in Nubia. Historical accounts had shown that he reached the borders at the Second Cataract of the Nile, probably founding a frontier on Sai Island. Amenhotep also raided Libya, although no details of his war are documented. His lone confirmed activities in Asia are the saving of the mines at Sinai and the reoccupation of the fortress established during the Middle Kingdom.

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