Virtual Autopsy Reveals ‘Screaming Woman’ Mummy Died in Agony 3,500 Years Ago

News Desk


The Advocate Post: A virtual autopsy of a 3,500-year-old mummy, known as the ‘Screaming Woman,’ has revealed she died in excruciating pain, with her final scream frozen in place for millennia. Discovered in 1935 in Deir el-Bahari, near Luxor, Egypt, the mummy’s preservation is extraordinary.

The CT scan showed her organs were intact and well-preserved, an unusual finding as the typical mummification process in the New Kingdom (circa 1550 to 1070 B.C.) involved removing all organs except the heart. This suggests a unique embalming technique using expensive imported substances.

“Mummification in ancient Egypt is still full of secrets,” said study co-author Sahar Saleem, a mummy radiologist at Kasr Al Ainy Hospital of Cairo University. “This was a surprise to me, as intact organs usually indicate poor mummification, but the Screaming Woman was remarkably well preserved.”

Archaeologists unearthed the ‘Screaming Woman’ mummy, named for her gaping mouth, in a nearby burial chamber to Senenmut, a prominent architect and rumored secret lover of Queen Hatshepsut. It’s believed she was a close family member of Senenmut.

The researchers shared their findings in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, highlighting the mysterious and advanced preservation techniques used in ancient Egypt.

This Post Has One Comment

Leave a Reply