Unveiling the Mystery of the “Screaming Woman” Mummy: New Findings from Egypt Researchers

The “Screaming Woman” mummy found in Luxor, Egypt, has long intrigued researchers and historians with her haunting open-mouth facial expression. However, new evidence presented by Cairo University radiologist Dr. Sahar Saleem and anthropologist Samia El-Merghan suggests a more chilling possibility.

In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, Saleem and El-Merghan reported that the woman may have “died screaming from agony or pain.” This conclusion was drawn from CT scans and other tools used to analyze the mummy. The researchers also suggested that the woman’s facial expression could be attributed to cadaveric spasm, a phenomenon that occurs during intense physical or emotional activity.

The study estimated that the woman was 48 years old and stood at about 5 feet 1 inch tall. While the findings were not definitive, they challenged the common belief that the mummy’s open-mouth expression was due to improper embalming techniques. Instead, the researchers argued that the woman’s appearance could have been influenced by various factors, such as burial procedures and post-mortem alterations.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the woman’s expression, Saleem and El-Merghan noted that the embalming process used on the mummy, known as CIT8, indicated good mummification quality. The presence of a wig, rings, expensive embalming materials, and placement in a wooden coffin suggested that the embalmers took care in preserving the body.

The “Screaming Woman” mummy was discovered near the tomb of Senmut in Luxor between 1935 and 1936 and later housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. According to the study, she was believed to be a relative of Senmut, an architect during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful female leaders. The circumstances surrounding Senmut’s final years and the cause of the woman’s death remain unknown, adding to the mystery of this enigmatic mummy.