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1,700-year-old mummy

Ancient Egyptian mummy underwent ritual healing for the afterlife

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An analysis on a 1,700-year-old Egyptian mummy has revealed two plaques placed over her body – one on her sternum, the other on her abdomen. Researchers believe the plaques were intended as a type of ritual healing following the embalming process, in order to be healthy and strong in the afterlife.

The mummy is of a woman aged between 30 and 50, who lived in the 3 rd or 4 th century AD when Egypt was under Roman rule. By this time, traditional customs such as mummification had started to die out; but not for this lady, who was obviously adamant that she would be prepared appropriately for the afterlife.

Researchers have been careful to leave the wrappings in place but hi-tech scans have revealed many details about her. Images show that embalmers had removed her inner organs, including her heart, but had left her brain in place. Spices and lichen had been placed over her head and body, and two thin plaques, similar to cartonnage (a plastered material used to make funerary masks), were placed on her skin above her sternum and abdomen.

A facial reconstruction of the mummy

A facial reconstruction of the mummy done by forensic artist Victoria Lywood. Photo source.

The positioning of the plaques is perplexing as they were placed over areas that had not been cut open – previous findings have revealed plaques placed over areas of incision. However, researchers believe the plaque on the sternum may have acted as a type of replacement for the heart, while the plaque on the abdomen may have been placed there as a type of ritual healing for the incision made in the woman’s perineum to remove her inner organs, or as a replacement for the organs removed from her abdomen. The researchers believe that this may have been done to give her a more “favourable afterlife”.

The absence of the heart is also a point of mystery for Egyptologists and scholars. It is well known that the heart played an important role in ancient Egyptian religion. The ancient Egyptians believed that, after death, one’s heart and good deeds would be weighed against the measure of truth. If their heart weighed the same or less they could obtain eternal life, but if it weighed more they were destroyed.

Studies of Egyptian mummies have revealed that most of the time the heart is left in place, but on some occasions it is removed.  "We don't really know what's happening to the hearts that are removed," said Andrew Wade, a professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.  “During some time periods, the hearts may have been put in canopic jars, a type of jar used to hold internal organs, though tissue analysis is needed to confirm this idea,” Wade said.

It is believed that the mummy’s final resting place was near Luxor. However, being a victim of antiquity dealers who purchased her in the 19 th century, it is hard to say for certain. She is now housed at the Redpath Museum at McGill University in Montreal.

Featured image: This 1,700-year-old mummy which is now kept at the Redpath Museum at McGill University in Montreal.  Credit: Photo courtesy Nicolas Morin

By April Holloway

 

Comments

Egypt is fascinating!
Since 1994 we study Ancient Egyptian Teachings.

Did you hear something about Count Walewsky and his manuscript the Caucasian Yoga?
One of Arcan this manuscript describes the way of restoration of Vital force, Nervous Energy,
which was used in Ancient Egypt - VITIC RODS

ViITIC RODS -healing knowledge from Ancient Egypt. Egyptian healing rods restore Vital force, Nervous Energyand are mental ancient technologies

may be one day somebody find mummy with this rods :)

As an author of historical fiction focusing of the Jesus and the early Christian community, I find this type of article fascinating, During this time period--300-400 CE--the Christian movement was already spreading like wildfire throughout the Roman Empire. And, there is much evidence to suggest a strong "Christian" Coptic Community thrived in Egypt at this same time. It is certainly interesting to note the practice of mummification, although rare, was still being sought out by certain Egyptians, who held on tightly to the traditional customs and beliefs, during a time when drastic changes in ideology and religious beliefs were changing drastically.
JB Richards
Author of "Miriamne the Magdala"- The First Chapter in the "Yeshua and Miri Novel Series" and Content Creator for The Miriamne Page

For more information on this epic novel series, and The Miriamne Page, just click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miriamne-the-Magdala-First-in-the-Series-...

Fascinating article! I hope they discover why the heart was removed in this case as it's a rare thing to see. However, I did want to point out that, to the best of my knowledge, the heart was weighed against the "feather" of truth (not measure), and it had to balance out evenly; not too heavy nor too light. If she didn't have her heart to take with her, I wonder what they thought she could do instead once she reached the halls of Ma'at? Is there an inscription on the plaque, and has it been translated? I'd love to know what it said. :-)

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April

April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan.

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