The mysterious ‘Bashiri’ mummy has captivated the minds of Egyptologists for more than a century, but no expert has ever dared to touch it.
The mummy, known as ‘the untouchable one,’ was discovered by renowned Egyptologist Howard Carter in 1919 in the Valley of the Kings area of Luxor, three years before he uncovered King Tutankhamun’s lavish tomb.
The technique used to wrap this ancient corpse has never been seen in any other, with the bandages over the face arranged in an intricate pattern that resembles Egypt’s famous pyramids.
The extraordinary care with which that Bashiri mummy was wrapped suggests this person was also of great importance in ancient Egyptian society.
But the identity of the corpse remains unknown largely because unwrapping the mummy to learn what lies within could irreversibly damage this one-of-a-kind embalming practice.
Scientists have found other ways to peer inside it, however, finding some clues as to who this person might have been.
CT scans and X-rays have been used to see what lies beneath the bandages without disturbing them.
These techniques have allowed researchers to determine that the Bashiri mummy was once a man who stood about five and a half feet tall.
The intricate technique used to wrap the Bashiri mummy has never been seen in any other
The Bashiri mummy dates back to the Ptolemaic era between the second and early third centuries BCE.
During this time, the artistry and sophistication of mummification practices were at their peak.
This mummy provides a unique window into the funerary practices during the Ptolemaic era of ancient Egypt. It is currently housed at the Egypt Museum in Cairo.
The complex arrangement of bandages over the mummy’s face is said to resemble the architectural design of the Egyptian pyramids, which may indicate the reverence and respect held toward this individual.
Unwrapping the mummy would be the most direct way to learn more about the remains that lie within.
But its wrappings are extremely delicate, and damaging them would destroy the only known evidence of this particular embalming technique.
That’s why experts have resorted to less invasive methods of investigation, such as CT scans and X-rays.
Observing the mummy’s ornate exterior also reveals information about this man’s status during his life.
CT scans and X-rays have allowed researchers to determine that the Bashiri mummy was once a man who stood about five and a half feet tall
Observing the mummy’s ornate exterior also reveals information about this man’s status during his life. For example, the wide collar covering his chest is made of several rows of beads and includes falcon-headed clasps, indicating wealth and importance
The apron covering the body features various scenes, including the mummy lying on a bed surrounded by the goddesses Isis and Nephthys, as well as the four sons of Horus, the god of kingship
The wide collar covering his chest is made of several rows of beads and includes falcon-headed clasps, according to the Egypt Museum.
The apron covering the body features various scenes, including the mummy lying on a bed surrounded by the goddesses Isis and Nephthys, as well as the four sons of Horus, the god of kingship.
The casing around the feet is also adorned two images of the funerary god Anubis.
These details suggest this was a man of great wealth and importance, but they do not bring experts any closer to learning his name.
The only clue is a hastily-written inscription scrawled inside his tomb, which may spell ‘Bashiri’ or ‘Nenu,’ but experts have never been able to settle on a single interpretation.
As experts continue to investigate these remarkable remains through non-invasive techniques, they may uncover more clues as to who this man was.
But until then, the Bashiri mummy will remain shrouded in mystery.
