Why does an Egyptian mummy have a screaming face similar to Edvard Munch’s painting ‘The Scream’? This question has puzzled researchers for a long time. Now, we are getting closer to an answer as a research team suggests that the woman who was mummified may have died in agony, according to The Guardian.
This woman is believed to have been buried around 3,500 years ago and was discovered in 1935 in a wooden coffin beneath the tomb of Senmut, the great architect during the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. Archaeologists also discovered a burial chamber of Senmut’s mother, Hat-Nufer, as well as individual tombs of her relatives.
Dr. Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology at Cairo University, said: ‘Although no name was recorded on the mummy, it is possible that she was a close family member and therefore shared the eternal resting place with this family.’
Seeking an Explanation
Dr. Saleem and her research co-author, Dr. Samia El-Merghani, said they used computed tomography (CT) technology to “virtually dissect” the mummy, as well as techniques including X-ray diffraction analysis to study the skin, hair, and long black wig.
The research team said the mummy was well-preserved, estimating that the woman was about 1.55 meters tall when alive. The CT scans provided more detailed information, showing that she died around the age of 48 and had mild arthritis.
However, the researchers did not find any signs of the typical mummification incisions, and all of her internal organs remained inside the mummy.
‘This surprised me because the classical mummification method in the New Kingdom of Egypt (1550-1069 BC) involved removing all internal organs, except the heart,’ said Dr. Saleem.
In the middle and lower classes, a rudimentary mummification process might leave the internal organs intact. But this was not the case for the mummy being studied.
The woman was not only buried wearing two scarab rings made of silver and gold, but the researchers also found mummification materials including juniper resin and frankincense—expensive imported ingredients that could help preserve the body.
Analyses showed that the woman’s hair contained juniper and henna, while the wig was made from braided palm fibers and contained traces of juniper, frankincense, and various minerals. According to Dr. Saleem, these substances could stiffen the fibers and give the wig its sleek black color.
The researchers believe these findings not only provide insight into ancient mummification processes, wig-making, and the trade of mummification materials, but also suggest that the woman’s wide-open mouth was not due to careless mummification.
Instead, the research team proposed that the woman’s expression may be due to a rare form of rigor mortis.
‘We believe that the woman’s wide-open mouth might be due to a painful death or emotional stress, and the rigor mortis caused her face to freeze at the time of death. The embalmers couldn’t close her mouth and decided to mummify the stiffened body before it decomposed,’ Dr. Saleem explained.
The “Screaming” Mummies
However, the cause of death remains unclear. The researchers also noted that some other experts believe the screaming expression might be the result of burial procedures or changes after death.
Salima Ikram, a professor at the American University in Cairo, disagreed with the research team’s explanation.
‘I don’t really think that this rigor mortis is something the embalmers would want to preserve forever. So, I think the expression stems from something else,’ she said.
The professor added that the drying process in mummification took 40 days. ‘Surely, they (the embalmers) could have rearranged the body’s features during that time,’ Ikram said.
Dr. Stuart Hamilton, a forensic researcher, said there has been debate about rigor mortis, but no reasonable explanation has yet been found. ‘I accept that this idea exists, although it is certainly controversial,’ he said. However, the forensic researcher added that not everything needs to be explained too complexly: ‘I think the mouth just opened and ultimately stayed that way.’
Though rare, this is not the only “screaming” mummy. Dr. Saleem and her colleagues previously studied the mummy of a person believed to be Prince Pentawere, the son of Pharaoh Ramesses III. Prince Pentawere was involved in a conspiracy to kill his father.
Dr. Saleem said, ‘The embalmers did not close his mouth. It might have been a form of punishment, forcing him to scream forever.’
The remains of Princess Meritamun, believed to be the sister of Pharaoh Ahmose—who reigned from around 1550 to 1525 BC—also have a similar expression. Dr. Saleem and her colleagues said their previous research showed that Meritamun died from a sudden and severe heart attack. ‘The wide-open mouth might be a natural jaw phenomenon maintained by muscle stiffness after death—also known as rigor mortis—making it impossible for the embalmers to close her mouth,’ Saleem explained.”
