The 3,500-year-old mummy of pharaoh Amenhotep I, discovered in 1881 but never "discarded" by archaeologists, has been digitally unveiled by Egyptian scientists, revealing unpublished details on the life and death of the Egyptian king.

Decorated with flower garlands and a charming wooden face mask, as CNN reports, the mummy was so fragile that archaeologists had never dared expose its remains, making it the only Egyptian royal mummy found in the 19th century and not yet open. by scholars. "By digitally downloading the mummy and 'peeling off' its virtual layers - the face mask, the bandages and the mummy itself - we could study this well-preserved pharaoh in unprecedented detail," said Sahar Saleem, professor of radiology at the Faculty of Medicine. of Cairo University and Egyptian Mummy Project radiologist, in a note.

Saleem and his colleagues found that Amenhotep I was around 35 years old and 169 centimeters tall when he died. He was also circumcised and had healthy teeth. About 30 amulets and a gold belt were found inside the casings. The pharaoh had a narrow chin, a small, narrow nose, curly hair, and slightly protruding upper teeth, Saleem said.

The investigation did not reveal any injuries or other signs that could reveal the cause of his death.

Amenhotep I ruled Egypt for about 21 years, between 1525 and 1504 BC. He was the second king of the 18th dynasty and led a largely peaceful period of reign, during which he built many temples.

The pharaoh's skull, including his teeth, were in excellent condition. The researchers also found that the mummy had suffered from multiple post mortem injuries, likely inflicted by ancient tomb robbers, injuries which, according to hieroglyphic texts, priests and embalmers sought to repair more than four centuries after it was mummified and buried. for the first time.

The research was published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.

(Unioneonline / vl)

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