11/6/2022 0 Comments Pharaoh mummy![]() ![]() ![]() The mummy of an unidentified nobleman had an arrow embedded in its chest, Saleem said, which may have occurred in battle. Historical accounts tell of Ramesses II and Thutmose III taking part in battle, but there is no evidence of injuries on their mummies. For example, Ramesses III had his throat cut in a palace coup, she said. In Photos: A look inside an ancient Egyptian mummyĪlthough researchers have discovered pharaoh mummies with violent wounds before, there had been no evidence of pharaoh battlefield deaths until now, Saleem told Live Science. Photos: Ancient Egyptian cemetery with 1 million mummies Mummification: The lost art of embalming the dead He may have been captured on the battlefield and executed by multiple attackers, Saleem said in the statement. The mummy's hands were flexed and clenched, but there were no defensive injuries on his forearms, leading the researchers to suggest that perhaps Seqenenre Taa II's hands were bound when he died. Concentrated on the right side of the skull, the damage seems to have been caused by a dagger and a heavy, blunt object, perhaps an ax handle. From the left, a weapon - probably a spear - penetrated the base of his skull, leaving a 1.4-inch-long (3.5 cm) wound.Įarly archaeologists had previously reported many of these wounds, but Saleem and her colleague, Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, discovered a new set of skull fractures covered by embalming material. Meanwhile, someone in front of the king swung a sword or an ax at the pharaoh's left cheek, leaving another deep slice. More cuts on the nose, right eye and right cheek came from the right and from above and may have been delivered with an ax handle or blunt staff, the researchers said. Another potentially fatal slice above the pharaoh's right eye was 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) long and possibly made by an ax. The pharaoh had a 2.75-inch-long (7 centimeters) cut across his forehead, which would have been delivered from an ax or sword stroke from above. Nevertheless, the wounds on the skull tell the story of a brutal death. ![]() (Image credit: Sahar Saleem) Violent death The skull and many of the bones are disarticulated. An x-ray of the mummy of Pharaoh Seqenenre Taa II. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |