Research reveals heart attack behind Egyptian princess' distinctive facial expression

Dr. Saleem and her team have presented compelling evidence suggesting that Princess Meritamun may have succumbed to a sudden and severe heart attack in their ongoing exploration of ancient Egyptian mummification practices.

Archaeologists believe that the wide-open mouth of a woman who died approximately 3,500 years ago might be due to a rare, rapid onset of rigor mortis, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

The expression on her face is eerily similar to Edvard Munch's famous painting, The Scream. Researchers have long been baffled by why this ancient Egyptian mummy bears such a dramatic expression. They now propose that the woman may have died while crying out in pain. She was buried around 3,500 years ago and was found in 1935 inside a wooden coffin beneath the tomb of Senmut, a prominent architect from the era of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut.

In addition to the screaming mummy, archaeologists uncovered a burial chamber for Senmut's mother, Hat-Nufer, near Luxor, along with individual graves for other relatives. Dr. Sahar Saleem, a radiology professor at Cairo University, noted that while the screaming mummy's name was not recorded, she was probably a close family member given her placement in the family's tomb.

In their article published in Frontiers in Medicine, Saleem and her colleague, Dr. Samia El-Merghani, detailed their use of computerized tomography (CT) scanning and other techniques, such as X-ray diffraction analysis, to study the mummy's skin, hair, and black wig. Their findings indicate that the mummy was well-preserved and was about 1.55 meters (just over 5 feet) tall when alive. CT scans revealed that she died at around 48 years old and had mild arthritis, including in her spine. Despite the detailed examination, no embalming incision was found, and all her organs remained intact inside the mummy.

Dr. Saleem expressed surprise at the finding, as the typical mummification process during the New Kingdom period (1550-1069 BCE) involved removing all organs except the heart. This omission is usually associated with less meticulous mummification practices among the middle and lower classes, but in the case of the screaming woman, this does not seem to be true.

The woman's burial included two scarab rings made of silver and gold, suggesting a level of wealth and care in her mummification. Additionally, the embalming materials found included juniper resin and frankincense—both expensive and imported substances known to enhance preservation.

Analyses revealed that juniper and henna were used on the woman’s hair. The wig, crafted from braided date palm fibers, also contained traces of juniper, frankincense, and various minerals. Saleem speculates that these additions might have been used to stiffen the wig fibers and maintain a youthful black color.

The researchers believe their findings provide valuable insights into mummification practices, wig-making techniques, and the ancient trade of embalming materials. They suggest that the woman's open mouth is unlikely to be due to careless embalming, where the mouth was simply left open. Instead, they propose that the open mouth may be the result of a rare, immediate form of rigor mortis.

Dr. Saleem explained that the woman's expression could be due to a painful death or emotional stress combined with a cadaveric spasm, which caused her face to freeze in the position it was in at the time of death. According to their theory, the embalmers might have been unable to close her mouth and mummified her while her body was still contracted, thereby preserving the open-mouth expression.

Despite these insights, the exact cause of death remains unknown. The researchers also note that other experts have suggested that the screaming expression might be related to burial procedures or changes occurring after death.

Salima Ikram, a distinguished professor at the American University in Cairo, is skeptical of the team's theory. She argues that it is unlikely the embalmers would have intentionally preserved a spasm for eternity, suggesting that the expression may be due to another cause. Ikram points out that the mummification desiccation process takes about 40 days, during which the embalmers could have adjusted the features of the deceased.

Dr. Stuart Hamilton, a forensic pathologist registered with the Home Office, also questions the concept of cadaveric spasms, noting that he has not encountered a convincing case. While he remains open to the possibility, he suggests that the mouth's open position could simply be due to it falling open and staying that way rather than being preserved in a spasm.

The "screaming" mummy is not unique. Dr. Saleem and her team have previously studied the remains of Prince Pentawere, the son of Pharaoh Ramesses III, who was allegedly involved in a plot to kill his father. Saleem noted that Pentawere's poorly embalmed body, with an open mouth, might have been a form of punishment, leaving him to "scream for eternity." Additionally, the remains of Princess Meritamun, believed to be the sister of King Ahmose, also exhibit a similar expression.

Saleem and her team suggest that their previous research indicates Princess Meritamun likely died of a sudden and severe heart attack. According to their findings, her widely open mouth may have resulted from a natural postmortem jaw drop that was preserved due to rigor mortis—a muscle contraction after death that prevented the embalmers from closing her mouth.