A pair of ancient Egyptian mummies have just delivered a remarkably modern message: back pain is nothing new. Using high-resolution CT imaging, radiologists at Keck Medicine of USC have created detailed 3D digital models of two priests who lived more than 2,000 years ago, revealing spinal degeneration in one man consistent with chronic lower back pain, and severe hip deterioration in the other.
The findings center on two individuals known as Nes-Min (died around 330 BC, likely in his 40s) and Nes-Hor (died around 190 BC, likely in his 60s). Their scans are also tied to public display: both mummies and the newly produced 3D models are set to feature in an exhibition at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, reports a Keck Medicine of USC release.
Ancient Egyptian mummy Nes-Min, who was scanned by Keck Medicine of USC radiologists, wears several beaded necklaces and a garment of heavily beaded net. (Ricardo Carrasco III/USC)
Inside the scans: a spine that tells its own story
In Nes-Min’s case, CT scanning revealed a collapsed lumbar vertebra - an injury pattern that suggests age-related wear and tear and likely long-term discomfort. According to Summer Decker, head of 3D imaging for Keck Medicine of USC, the damage points to the kind of ongoing pain many people still recognize today, relates Forbes.
Decker also noted something even more intriguing: imaging may show “tool marks” or small holes that do not appear natural, raising the possibility that some form of early intervention might have been attempted. It’s far too soon to label it “surgery,” she says, but it underscores why modern imaging is changing what researchers can responsibly say about ancient health.
Meanwhile, Nes-Hor’s scan pointed to a different burden: dental problems and a severely deteriorated hip that may have made walking difficult without help. Taken together, the two mummies offer an unusually personal look at aging and mobility in ancient Egypt, going beyond dynasties and temples, and down to daily pain, reports Forbes.
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A full-body 3D digital model of Nes-Min created by Keck Medicine of USC imaging specialists reveals the positioning of the body in the sarcophagus. (Photo courtesy of Keck Medicine of USC)
Why this technology matters (and why it’s getting better)
CT scanners create cross-sectional “slices” that can be stacked into detailed 3D reconstructions allowing researchers to examine bones, teeth, and other structures without physically unwrapping or damaging the remains. In this case, the team used a modern scanner capable of producing very fine detail (down to sub-millimeter slices), helping generate 3D digital models and even 3D-printed anatomical reproductions for museum display.
The two priests had been scanned before in the 1990s, but newer equipment and visualization methods are now producing sharper, more informative results - proof that even well-known mummies can “change” as the tools used to study them improve explains the Keck Medicine report.
Ancient Egyptian mummy Nes-Hor is captured on screen during a full body CT scan by Keck Medicine of USC radiologists. (Ricardo Carrasco III/USC)
The human angle: a priesthood, a body, and an aching back
It’s tempting to imagine ancient priests simply as one dimensional figures of ritual and iconography, but these scans bring the story back toward everyday experience. One man likely lived with persistent back pain; the other may have struggled to walk. Those are intimate details that are not mentioned in the inscriptions - they have come from vertebrae, hips, and teeth.
And that is arguably the real power of the project: it doesn’t just produce a “virtual unwrapping,” it recovers biography. As California Science Center anthropologist Diane Perlov put it, seeing beneath the surface to reveal an individual’s lived experience is “incredibly exciting,” because it opens a window into the world of people who would otherwise remain anonymous.
Top image: Keck Medicine of USC scans ancient Egyptian mummy Nes-Hor is scanned by Keck Medicine of USC radiologists. Source: Ricardo Carrasco III/Keck Medicine of USC
By Gary Manners
References
Katz, l., 2026. CT Scans Reveal Hidden Ailments Of 2,300-Year-Old Egyptian Mummies. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2026/02/04/ct-scans-unlock-new-medical-secrets-of-ancient-egyptian-mummies/
Keck Medicine of USC. 2026. Keck Medicine of USC scans and analyzes two Egyptian mummies to reveal new details about their lifespans, health and life experiences. Available at: https://news.keckmedicine.org/ct-scans-unwrap-secrets-of-ancient-egyptian-life/
