Questions about Egyptian Mummies 

Last Updated 08 April 2008

Bog Mummies

QUESTION from K: I am looking for information about mummies that show evidence of a cleft palate.  I have only a couple of them so far.  I feel sure there could be more, but either I don't know whom to ask, or CT scans have not been done to show this. Do you have any suggestions abaout where I should look next? I am not an Egyptologist.  I have a bachelor's degree in nursing ... but Egyptology has been a life-long interest.  I have been working on my own for a couple of years to learn what I can about classical Egyptian. I am now a part of an online group who is doing the same.  I feel I am finally getting somewhere!  I was born with a cleft palate and lip.  That explains my interest in this particular subject.  I would like to see what I can find and write a paper on it.( My daughter who is recent college graduate about to go off to graduate school, is helping me somewhat.) I appreciate your taking the time to read this, and I hope you can give me a suggestion or two.  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I did find some information about cleft palates in Egyptian Mummies. You will find the information in this book on pages 64-64. It is not clear if the evidence is from mummies or simply skulls (that is, burials that were not preserved)...but the skulls date back to the times when Egyptians mummified their dead. There is a pretty good bibliography at the end of the book, so this may lead you to further finds. Also is doing a fast web search, I see that "the young Tut had a slightly cleft palate and an impacted wisdom tooth." Also from Emory University: "The second child was about five years old, and there was evidence that he or she suffered from a cleft palate, a condition that can cause facial disfigurement, speech impediments, and, in severe cases, the inability to ingest food. There are several other documented cases of cleft palate from ancient Egypt, though they are not common. Two fractures, one of the skull, and a second just above the knee, may have beenrelated to the child's death. Traces of gilding on the face of this mummy suggest it dates to the Roman period. Little disease, other than dental, could be found in the mummies, although the well preserved body of a bearded man of the same era, who was at least 35 when he died, had evidence of tapeworms, parasites that can be transmitted by eating infected pork, a likely source of infection in ancient Egypt." Also from the University of Sydney's Nicholson Museum: "Their discoveries included what is thought to be the first ancient Egyptian with a cleft palate and impacted wisdom teeth. An even bigger surprise was that another mummy was a man, not a woman as the coffin had indicated." Hope this helps jump-start your search.

QUESTION from Beverly: I have a friend who is a private collector. He claims to have the mummy of Ptolemy II (no coffin) which he acquired from a private university who got it from a major public university. He has no documentation that the mummy is Ptolemy II. Does the mummy of Ptolemy II exist? Any ideas on how to determine the identity of the mummy?  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: According to the books I consulted, no one knows what happened to Ptolemy II--how he died, etc. No mummy has ever been located. It is rather unlikely that he would have Ptolemy II's mummy...especially passed down from universities. To identify, you should contact a reputable museum with a good Egyptian collection and provide photos of the mummy to see if anyone can make some preliminary guesses. Arm position alone might be able to indicate whether it is of royal descent. But other mummification factors can also tell an expert the quality of the mummification. Still, since no one knows how Ptolemy's life ended, proving that the mummy is his would be very difficult. Hope this helps.

QUESTION from Jonathan: We are curious about finding out how the Egyptians actually mined or gathered the compound natron. We just can't seem to find anything about that.  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: A good source for all types of information about Ancient Egypt is the British Museum's DICTIONARY OF ANCIENT EGYPT. Natron, according to this source, was found on the shores on lake beds at Wadi Natrun and Beheira province (both in lower Egypt) and Elkab (upper Egypt).

QUESTION from MN: I remember seeing on TV a female mummy that "they" thought was probably a temple dancer due to the henna in her hair and fingers, arthritics in the fingers (caused by playing an instrument) , and spinal decay. If I remember correctly she had some spinal curvature prior to death that "they" believed was probably caused by being a life time temple dancer. Would you be able to put in onto her trail? A search of the web has not found what I was expecting.  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You are talking about Asru, of the Manchester Museum in the UK, I believe. Here's a link to a short review.

QUESTION from Tasia: I have recently watched a documentary on King Tut's Curse. They (History Channel's "Investigating History") listed all of the people that came in contact with the tomb and how/when they died. One name that was listed was John Jacob Astor. I had thought that he died on the Titanic in 1912. Wasn't Tut's tomb found in the 1920's? So, all I am asking is could they have been wrong with listing this name as one of the possible curse victims?  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I don't have time to research this for you in depth, but I cann tell you that the Titanic person was Colonel John Jacob Astor IV...his daughter was named Ava Alice Muriel Astor. According to one source, she "was an occultist. She was born in 1902, was pretty but also a very serious woman. She was a very strong willed person that was able to dominate a person in her presence unless they were also strong willed. She was into Egyptian magic and believed she was the reincarnation of an Egyptian princess and a disciple of Ikhnaton. Alice Astor may have been one of the first people to enter King Tut’s tomb, where she got herself a necklace." Perhaps this is what you heard?

QUESTION from T: I recently came across a picture of a mummy in the British Museum they claim is Cleopatra, but they don't say which one. I know there was more than one, and I know it cannot be the famous Cleopatra everyone knows about. Can you give me some information on her, please?  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: There is a mummy of a girl named Cleopatra in the British Museum--but it isn't the famous Cleopatra. I don't know if you saw the information about her on my website, but you can see a photo and read from info here.

QUESTION from T: I need a list of all the discoveries of famous Egyptian mummies for the past years or centuries. Would you be able to help me find the people who discovered these mummies and when as well? Thanks.  ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: There is no such list available (and the definition of the word "famous" is a problem--what you think may be famous may not be for someone else). The best reference I can suggest to you is Ancient Egypt: The Great Discoveries by Nicholas Reeves or the appendix in The Mummy in Ancient Egypt by Ikram and Dodson. Both books should be available from a public library.

QUESTION from Gideon: My son is in 6th grade and he has to write a page on the middle kingdom, and we are having a little problem on finding some information. If you have some information that a sixth grader could create a couple of paragraphs out of it would be great if you could send us a copy of it. I am not sure what he needs, but I would guess, how it came about and how it came to an end and perhaps who was in charge and time frame. If you can do this it would be greatly appreciated.ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: It sounds as if your son should get himself to a library and start looking at some books. I'm not in the habit of sending paragraphs of information across the Internet when the information is readily available in books. You might want to look at these books: Chronicle of the Pharaohs: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Egypt by David P. Silverman (ed.), and Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt by Rosalie David.

QUESTION from Karina: I am a student in Workman High School in California. My school gave senior students a project which takes up the whole school year to finish > (Senior Project). We have to pick a topic and write an essay about it for the 1st semester, and do projects and a presentation for the 2nd semester. I decided to do my project on Ancient Egyptian Mummies. While doing my research for the past 2 months, I still don't know who first found mummies in Egypt and when were the first mummies found. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Karina, what you need to realize is that people have been finding mummies ever since they were first buried (or placed in tombs). And no one bothered to record the news of a mummy being discovered--we modern people are the ones interested in the "discovery." Therefore, the way you are approaching the subject is not going to help you find an answer. You can discuss when Europeans & Americans first discovered Egyptian mummies in the 1800s and 1900s--and Egyptomania took hold. (You might also want to think about why Europeans and Americans were so fascinated with mummies--and how their fascination also brought about great destruction.) You will want to find a copy of this book: Ancient Egypt: The Great Discoveries by Nicholas Reeves. I think this will be quite helpful to you.

QUESTION from Kevin: I am doing a project for my reading teacher about mummies!!! I need a picture of MUMMY 1770?? Can you please tell me where to find one??? 

QUESTION from Hekmat: I am in 6th grade, and we are studying mummies. I would like to get pictures and know something about mummy 1770. I know much about it but I have bits and pieces. Will you please send me something close to my request? And if you have anything that  would be useful for my class... it would really help. Thank you so much, mummy master. 

ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You can find photographs of and information about Mummy #1770 in Rosalie David's latest book Conversations with Mummies. Your local library should be able to get a copy. Joan Franze's 4th and 5th graders found a photo of 1770 in the September, 1997 issue of Calliope magazine (page 19), which had an article about the Manchester mummies. (The issue is packed with great stuff about science and medicine in Ancient Egypt.) 

QUESTION from M: I have a quick question for you as I am doing an Art project. How did 'life after death' effect the ancient Egyptian's architecture? And how did it affect the painting and the sculptures? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Sorry, but there is no quick answer to give you for this. It took the Egyptians 3,000 years to answer this question in practice. You need to start with reading some books on AE.

QUESTION from O: I was impressed with the great deal of information you provide through your web site about ancient Egypt and mummies. There are a few more things I would like to know about; hopefully you can help: The locations of the mummies around the world in museums, tombs, etc.; whether mummies can be sold; the price of mummies when sold; who are the possible mummy buyers around the world. Do you happen to have any information about the subject? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I wish I could help you but I don't know of any sources for buying (or selling) mummies. I have heard that there are art auction houses that occasionally will sell a mummy...but except for a "work of art" mummies are not really sold legally unless it's from museum to museum. 

QUESTION from Katy: Do you have any material on mummies of dwarfs found?  I am interested in finding out if Little People were treated well in ancient times or not and I'm assuming this 'class/standing' could be told from the tombs contents. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Thank for writing with your interesting request. I have not found any information about mummies of dwarfs found in ancient times. I know that the Egyptians made statues of dwarfs and that they were respected members of society. The only book I have come across that discusses this aspect of Egyptian life is called Disease by Joyce Filer. 

QUESTION from Cathy: Hey, did anyone ever find the tomb of Thutmose III? I'm researching him and I didn't find anything on his tomb. I'm so fascinated with mummies. They're really awesome. I would love to be an archeologist in Egypt. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Yes, they did find his tomb (so did graverobbers shortly after he was buried). You will want to find this book: Chronicle of the Pharaohs: The Reign-By-Reign Record of the Rulers and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt. It will answer all of your questions.

QUESTION from Jim: I am currently working on a project for an Egyptian exhibit coming to our local museum. In the "discovery" room we are building a large facade of a pyramid, the inside being a tomb-like pathway leading into a main burial chamber. Off one hallway we are making a failed grave robber scene (behind Plexiglas) , and need a little assistance on a few details: How would the grave robbers' skeleton be dressed? What possible causes of death could we use to explain his demise? Were tombs really rigged with traps as so commonly portrayed? I plan on making a placard for the grave robber scene with some info I've obtained from your website, such as the false quote; "Death shall come on swift wings to him that toucheth the tomb of the Pharaoh." I know you state that there was no such inscription, but it's just too good not to use. I also plan to list the pharaohs whose tombs were robbed and then end with a statement explaining our fellows' unfortunate situation. Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and if you'd like I'll e-mail you some photos of the exhibit when it's completed. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Sounds like you are working on an interesting project. But I'm not sure I know the answers about the clothing. There were false doors and pits into which a graverobber might fall. But the most interesting graverobber story I know (which led to someone's demise) is found in Mildred Pace's book Wrapped for Eternity (I believe). The graverobber managed to pry open the lid of the stone sarcophagus--only to have it crash down on him (killing him--all that you can see is the bony skeleton's arm holding on to the lip of the sarcophagus. By hiding the (dead) graverobber underneath the lid, you wouldn't have to worry about clothing either. I highly recommend Pace's book to give you further insight. And I would like to see photos--I'll be happy to post one or two. 

QUESTION from Carley: I am doing an  assignment on mummies (actually ancient Egyptian religion) and I was told that I had to somehow link  the mummies and temples, but I haven't been able to so far. I was wondering if you could possibly  explain or send information regarding mummies and temples; it would be greatly appreciated. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Actually, animal mummies were often left in temples as offerings to the god or goddess of that particular temple. For example, pilgrims left cat mummies at the Temple of Bastet (the cat goddess). That would make an interesting report, I think. It certainly links temples and mummies together in a nice package. 

QUESTION from Amanda: I am researching a possible large-scale science project that requires the dismantling of a small mummified animal. I understand from your website that there are many mummified animals in existence. Can you give me any leads on mummy dealers? Of course, I am interested in finding an Egyptian mummy that would not otherwise be displayed. I might be able to use a damaged or partial mummy, if that's an option. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS:  You're right: There are many Egyptian animal mummies in museums around the world--and there are even more that are not displayed. But I do not know any dealers that sell mummies (of any kind). You might try to contact Egyptian Museum's animal mummy project--you can read about it and follow the link at  The director of the project would certainly know if an animal mummy is available for your project. The thought of dismantling one might horrify her, though. 

QUESTION from J: Exactly what happened to Cleopatra's mummy? Is it true that somehow, her mummy was dropped down the sewers in Paris in the 1940's? I really have no clue to the whole story on this, and there doesn't seem to be much information on Cleopatra's mummy on the internet. Thanks!

QUESTION from Tiffany: I wish your website had been around when I was a kid, it's a really great resource! I have a quick question: I'm trying to find out if the body of Cleopatra VII (Ptolemy) has ever been recovered. I have this vague memory that it was at the Louvre (maybe I read this once?), but I've been scrounging around on the Net and have  been completely unable to find any reference to it. Do you happen to know if her body has been recovered, and if so, where it is? If it's more convenient, you could just point me in the right direction and I can look it up myself ... :) Thanks so much!

ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: Cleopatra's mummy has never been found. It may well be underwater--and therefore destroyed.  You can probably do a Google search and find out more information about her, including any information about her undiscovered burial site. 

QUESTION from A: I'm having difficulty finding the actual names of the chambers used in mummification. The only actual name i have come across is the "serdab" (where the statues are stored). Do you know the names of any of the other chamber (specifically, where the body is embalmed)? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You would find Mark Lehner's book The Complete Pyramids helpful: The burial chamber is called the Duat, the antechamber is called the Akhet. Hope this helps. 

QUESTION from Shawn: Do you know of any way that I could obtain a pound or two of natron from Wadi Natrun or El Kab? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I don't know of any way to obtain a pound or two of actual Egyptian natron other than suggesting that you make a trip there yourself (see this site for directions). However, Bob Brier, a professor at Long Island University, did acquire some natron a number of years ago for a mummification experiment (you may have seen it on the Discovery Channel)--if you could track him down, you might pose the same question to him. I also came across a (non-defunct) website that added: "The ancient Egyptians used natron (sodium carbonate) not only for mummification but for consecrating and purifying ritual space much as salt is used in many religions. An article on natron in Khepera #10 (Volume 2 #1) explained how you could buy it ($$!) from a chemical supply house or photographic store, or prepare it by baking (carefully!) sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda was only available as 'oxygen bleach' mixed with perfume (Isis incense?) detergents and other chemicals. Now, Arm & Hammer™ is selling pure, unadulterated washing soda," (natron) and it's as close as your local supermarket. If they don't stock it (most Albertson’s stores do) ask them to order it for you. For about $1.79 (US) you can obtain 3 lbs 7 oz of natron. Pure sodium carbonate can also be obtained at swimming pool supply stores. Click here to find out what to look for. If you would like a copy of the original article, Khepera #10 is available from the Idaho office for a minimum donation of $3.00."

QUESTION from Whitney: I am in the 7th grade. I am trying to find information on how the Egyptians discovered Natron along the Nile River, how they mined it and how they came to use it in their mummifications. I have tried to search the internet and look for books at the library for more detailed information and can't find any.  Could you please help me. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: You have selected (or been assigned) a difficult research project. There isn't much information about this subject (I hope you don't have to write more than a page or so) and you will have to really work to find the resources. But here's what I can tell you: (1) You will find about 300 words on the subject in the British Museum's Dictionary of Ancient Egypt by Ian Shaw and Paul Nicholson (p. 197. You will find this brief summary very helpful if you can find the book. Natron was used for many things besides mummification (much like baking soda: toothpaste and soap, among other uses). This source does not indicate how natron was discovered or mined--except that it accumulated on the shores and beds of ancient lakes. I would figure that ancient peoples of the area knew about natron and knowledge of it was passed down over the years. (2) Try to find A. Lucas’ Ancient Materials and industries, 4th edition (London, 1962), pp. 263-267. This will contain information on natron.  Also try to find A. T. Sandison's "The use of natron in mummification in ancient Egypt" in the Journal of Near Eastern Studies, volume 22 (1963), pp. 159-267.  You will need a college library most likely to locate these (or a very good and helpful public librarian who can use interlibrary loan).

QUESTION from Thomas: I'm doing a school project and I was just wondering why the ancient Egyptians mummified their people. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I don't have the time or space to explain the answer to your question...but I have written it in my book How to Make a Mummy Talk.  You should be able to find a copy of the book in your school or local library--look at pages 47-54 for the answer. If my book isn't available, look for Aliki's book Mummies Made in Egypt.

QUESTION from Debbie: I am the mother of two 6 year old twin boys who are fascinated, no obsessed with mummies.  We live in ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I have two sets of twins myself (15 and 10)...so I know you have a lot of motivation to pursue their interests. The closest museum that has (or will have) a good mummy exhibit is the Carlos Museum in Atlanta (Emory University). They recently purchased a number of mummies from a Canadian museum--these might include the mummy of Rameses I. I'd suggest that you explore their website and start with a visit there. Other museums in the US usually have a small collection (don't plan the vacation around a visit to the Metropolitan Museum or Brooklyn Museum in NY—both have wonderful collections but display almost no mummies).  What I'd do is save up a little longer and plan a trip to London and head for the British Museum. Especially if you plan your trip for winter, you can usually get airfare for $300 or less (less than you'd spend on flying anywhere in the US--plus kids always get at least a 25% discount off the fare). I have taken my own kids there (not all four on the same trip--that's out of our price range). If you ever decide to pursue this and need some money-saving options, I'd be happy to share some cost-cutting suggestions with you. Finally, King Tut's mummy is in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.  Rameses II's mummy is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Of course, this should be your third trip: Egypt.

QUESTION from Charlotte: I am from the UK and I will be ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I don't have the time or knowledge to answer your

QUESTION from J: Do you have or know about any references on how to unwrap a mummy? I have an upcoming project that requires this information. ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: People who unwrapped mummies didn't usually take the time or effort to write down the instructions. They cut and sawed and destroyed everything to get inside the mummy (and then they often threw the body away). Two books might be of interest: (1) Unwrapping a Mummy by John Taylor which might give some clues and (2) an entire chapter on mummy wrappings in The Mummy in Ancient Egypt by Ikram and Dodson.

QUESTION from V: I've heard that King Tut was murdered by poison or by a blow to the head? What happened to him? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: There are many different theories about the death of King Tut. I don't know if you found the page on my site at this URL. One day perhaps there will be a little bit more agreement, but right now there is not. More work still needs to be done.

QUESTION from Elephant: Were there any techniques for burying thieves? Were they punished before being mummified, buried alive, or were they not even noticed at all after dying, etc.? ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: This is a good question without a known answer. No one knows who some mummies were (the poorer ones usually, or the ones that were desecrated)...but they probably weren't thieves. A thief was most likely not going to be mummified (no matter what the 1999 Mummy movie might have you believe--and he was a murderer/adulterer). There is a mummy of one poor soul who may have been placed inside a sheepskin (which was then sewn shut) ...but there are differences of opinion even about this person. Your best bet is to find a copy of Ikram and Dodson's The Mummy in Ancient Egypt which covers the territory very thoroughly...with many details (but no details about thieves).

QUESTION from Stephen: I am preparing to teach a unit over early Egyptian times in the coming weeks. I have been thinking of class projects regarding the mummification process and have been reading up on the subject as best I can. I found your website to be exceptional! I was wondering if you could suggest any activity that high school juniors would enjoy. I have been considering mummifying a small animal, putting on a mock embalmers ritual, or maybe just dehydrating some fruits for example. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions if you have them. Maybe you could suggest more websites you know of or reading material. I would greatly appreciate it! ANSWER FROM THE MUMMY TOMBS: I have a few mummy recipes posted on my website. The one that will help you most is the first one on the page (Alex W.), though you may want to take some ideas for a ceremony from the second recipe. I don't keep up with other websites (no time!), so I can't help you there. In terms of reading material, there is so much to choose from. But if you want ideas in planning a ceremony, you might find Aliki's picture book MUMMIES MADE IN EGYPT (many teachers use this as a guide and your high school students don't have to know). If you want excellent academic background information, you might try The Mummy in Ancient Egypt (by Ikram and Dodson). And my own book How to Make a Mummy Talk is very accessible to all levels of students and has a number of interesting mummy stories (including Egyptian mummies) in the book. If you do anything you'd like to share with others (text and/or photos), don't hesitate to let me know. I'd be happy to post a page on your project.