# Revealed:
The Screaming Mummy
#
Usermaatre Meryamun Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of
the Twentieth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt. He is thought to have reigned from 26
March 1186 to 15 April 1155 BC and is considered to be the last great monarch
of the New Kingdom to wield any substantial authority over Egypt. He was a very powerful and
successful pharaoh. Despite perception some experts believe that the king had
troubles at home. “Towards the end of his reign, there does appear to have been
some with law and order. So there may have been gathering storm clouds” –
Roland Enmarch, University of Liverpool.
This stormy
last year’s become the basis for a long-held theory. Does Ramessess III is the
target of an assassination plot? To find the answer, we have to dive deep in
history…..
“The assassination
of Ramessess III and attempt to put someone other than his designated successor
on the throne is definitely a co-desire”, Colleen Darnell.
But there was
a problem with the theory. No one’s ever been able to prove that his death is a
murder. Now with modern equipment, scientists used “Cutting Edge Technology” to
reveal the secrets of Ramessess III body. His body is labelled, it was re-wrapped
and re-buried following the end of the new kingdom. So, there is no doubt in identifying
his body. The pharaoh’s corps now lies in the Egyptian museum in Cairo.
When
scientists carry out an initial examination in 2012, they find no obvious cause
of death. no disease, trauma or any indication that he could have died. But with
closer scrutiny there is a visible clue. While most of the bandages on the body
were taken off during antiquity, in one spot the bandages were left intact
around his neck. The bandages were intact from the time of the burial
suggesting they could be hiding something. Unlike other post-mortem examination
that dissect the body, the scientists decide not to remove the bandages. Instead
they use a 21st century method of investigation. CT scan is a way good
method to examine a mummy. The scan of Ramessess III, for the first time in the
history, creating a 3d image of a three thousand years old corpse. When the scientists
study the scan of the neck, they are horrified. It became clear that there is a
very deep gash that runs across his throat cutting his muscles, skin and even
the anterior. The 7inch cut even pulled out his vertebrae of the neck.
A wound of
this type can only mean one thing, murder.
Inside the
wound, there is a little amulet. In CT scan it can be seen easily noticed that it’s
the shape of an “Ujjat” eye, the eye of Horus. This is the amulet that the
ancient embalmer used to heal something. Its as if to make up for the fact that
he died in such a violent and traumatic way that they’re adding that amulet to
almost undo the damage. It’s enough evidence for some Egyptologist make a final
conclusion about the fate of Ramessess III.
The tomb at
Diro Bahri containing most of the mummies of the rulers of the New Kingdom is
discovered in the 1880s. One of the mummy is very unusual there, the so-called “Screaming
Mummy”. This unique mummy has its mouth open and it looks like its really
screaming. The physical evidence of the
screaming mummy indicates that he died a violent death.
For decades
the screaming mummy is an enigma. But in 2012, scientists performed an autopsy
on the horrifying corpse. It reveals something even more sinister. It is not in
a nice sarcophagus with its name written on it and the mummy has not been
mummified. It is simply just naturally dried out corpse. Scientists found every
possible indication that he was intentionally not embalmed properly. His internal
organs were left in his body, he was buried in ritually impure goat skin. It appears
to some that this is done deliberately. It seems that the priests who enacted
this bizarre version of the mummification ritual took care to not give him a proper
burial.
Some Egyptologists
speculate that this person may have been cursed in his burial. From outer side
around his neck there is some wrinkles that indicates ropes around his neck and
maybe he died of suffocation.
The evidence
suggest the man is strangled or hanged, it could be a punishment of a gruesome
crime.
Egyptologists
turn to ancient records for more information. Re-examining an ancient papyrus
found in the 19th century, they discover something incredible. Trial
records describing a plot to assassinate Ramessess III. When experts study the
section naming the accused, they’re even more intrigued. On trial is one of the
king’s wives, Queen Tiye. Also mentioned the name of her son, Pentawaret. The papyrus
tells us the name, what they did as part of the conspiracy, who they interacted
with so they give the names of their collaborations. This is an attempt to
change the arc of Egyptian history.
Some of the
conspirators seem to have been swiftly sentenced. Lower ranking conspirators
are executed often in very gruesome ways. Some of them seem to have been
impaled on spikes but it appears the judge faces dilemma with the others because
prepetrators in the assassination of Ramssess III are members of the Royal
Family. How do you handle the death penalty?
Historians can
find very little record of Queen Tiye’s fate but they uncover a chilling sentence
for Pentaware.
The pharaohs
son is found guilty and ordered to kill himself. Pentaware will perform suicide possibly by hanging
himself.
Experts can
now consider an extraordinary new theory. The screaming mummy could be
Pentaware, Ramessess III son and possible conspirator to the pharaoh’s murder.
To prove the
theory, scientists turn to the field of genetics hoping to confirm the
screaming mummy’s identity.
Forensic
anthropologist Dr. Albert Zinke leads the investigation. He and his team
installed a DNA Laboratory in Cairo, close to the museum to extract the DNA.
Dr. Zinke and his team extract a sample from the bone of the screaming mummy believing
they have found ancient DNA. When he compares the sequencing data of the
screaming mummy with the DNA of Ramessess III, he stunned. 50% code of DNA is
matching with each other, the screaming mummy and Ramessess III. They are
indeed father and son.
It is a
shocking and unexpected result. Based on this information, some Egyptologists believe
they can make a conclusion on the screaming mummy.
The son of
Ramessess III, Prince Pentaware may have been instrumental in a plot to kill
his own father, the 20th dynasty pharaoh of Egypt then he hanged for
it.
No comments:
Post a Comment