Lady Rai, whose mummy is one of the oldest and most well-preserved ever discovered, offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient Egyptian life and burial practices. Serving as the nursemaid to Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, Lady Rai lived during the early 18th Dynasty, around 1530 BC. Her mummified remains were unearthed in 1881 in a royal cache at Deir el-Bahari, a significant archaeological site near Luxor.
The mummy is perfectly preserved
The mummy of Lady Rai is remarkable not only for its age but also for the meticulous mummification process it reveals. Rai was a slim woman only about 4 foot 11 inches. She was estimated to be about 30 or 40 years old when she died around 1530 B.C.E.
The mummy’s face and body had been thinly coated with resin mixed with sand. There was an embalming incision in the traditional position on the left side of the body, which was covered with a fusiform embalming plate, which was common for mummies of the 18th Dynasty. The body was carefully wrapped in linen bandages. Some of these bandages were inscribed with her name, which helped identify her.
Her scalp retained abundant amounts of what appears to be her own hair, not a wig, which would have been more common. This was styled in tightly plaited groups of braids down to her chest. Rai’s teeth only had slight wear. In 2009, the mummy was CAT scanned, which revealed that she had a diseased aortic arch and thus the oldest known mummy with evidence of atherosclerosis.
Lady Rai’s tomb also contained a variety of grave goods, including jewelry, pottery, and cosmetic items, indicating her high status and the wealth associated with her position in the royal household. These artifacts shed light on the daily life and customs of the Egyptian elite, as well as their beliefs about the afterlife. The presence of such items reflects the Egyptians’ practice of equipping the deceased with goods they would need in the afterlife, emphasizing their belief in a continued existence beyond death.
A window into ancient Egyptian life
The discovery of Lady Rai’s mummy has significantly contributed to our understanding of the New Kingdom period in ancient Egypt. Through the study of her remains and the items buried with her, researchers have been able to glean important information about the health, diet, and lifestyle of people from that era. Moreover, the examination of her mummy has helped scientists and historians refine their knowledge of ancient Egyptian mummification techniques, leading to broader insights into the civilization’s religious and cultural practices.
Today, Lady Rai’s mummy is displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where it continues to be a source of fascination for scholars and visitors alike. Her story and the preservation of her remains offer a tangible connection to a distant past, allowing modern audiences to appreciate the sophistication and complexity of ancient Egyptian society.
