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(#7) Screaming Mummies Have Been Found All Over The World
The screaming part of the mummy's expression wasn't due to the manner of his demise, but the position of the remains. In fact, screaming mummies can be found all over the world, from Sicily to Peru - one museum in Mexico even boasts over 111 artifacts. Other Egyptian mummies also share the same expression on their faces.
As the joints holding the jaw in place slacken, their jaws gape open as rigor mortis sets in, leaving behind a horrific expression.
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(#12) Want More Ancient Egypt?
One of the oldest and most mythologized cultures in human history, Ancient Egypt has attracted the curious and the adventurous for millennia. The land has long been revered as a place of knowledge, mystery, and unparalleled beauty - with archaeologists still uncovering its secrets to this day. If you want to delve deeper into Egypt's history, the following books, media, and other Ranker lists are highly recommended.
A great place to start is Toby Wilkinson's The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt, an enthralling one-volume work that draws upon the author's 40 years of archaeological expertise. The civilization is reviewed from its early beginnings to its ultimate fate as a vassal of the Roman Empire.
For those more interested in the mythology of the culture, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt is as thorough as its title promises.
When Women Ruled the World offers a unique perspective on Ancient Egyptian culture by examining the reigns of six female rulers, including Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra.
If you’re in the mood for a documentary, Egypt: The Series is a great tour through the New Kingdom and its lavish monuments.
With more than 300 photographs, many of them in color, The Art of Ancient Egypt pays homage to 3,000 years of glorious architecture, tombs, wall paintings, amulets, papyri, and objects traced to multiple Egyptian dynasties.
For those looking to add some epic flair to their home, this five-panel wall art installation offers a glimpse of the pyramids as they appear today.
For further reading on Ancient Egypt, Ranker's editors have selected the following lists that dive into the truths and popular misconceptions about this fascinating culture:
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(#3) The Harem Conspiracy Involved More Than Just Prince Pentawere And His Mother
Along with Queen Tiy and Prince Pentawere, a group of important noblemen conspired to get rid of Ramesses III. A record of their trial, called the Turin Judicial Papyrus, still survives. As a result, we know the names of the chief conspirators. One was "Pebekkamen, formerly chief of the chamber" who stirred up resentment against the Pharaoh. Pebekkamen conspired with ex-butler Mesedsure, ex-overseer of the royal harem Peynok, and the scribe Pendua. The conspiracy went all the way to the top. Top-level conspirators included Peyes, the former commander of the army, Oneney, the chief of police, Hori, the head of the infantry bearers, and more.
As it turns out, the conspirators didn't entirely fail. Examination of the mummy of Ramesses III revealed a seven-centimeter-wide slash on his throat that went deep to the bone.
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(#2) He May Have Been A Prince Executed For Involvement In 'The Harem Conspiracy'
Scholars think they might have identified Unknown Man E. There was once a man named Prince Pentawere, a son of Pharaoh Ramesses III, who participated in a conspiracy to remove his father from the throne. One of Ramesses's minor wives, a member of his harem named Tiy, wanted her husband off the throne. She aimed to oust the king and put her son, Pentawere, in his place. The plan also involved removing Ramesses's chosen heir.
Pentawere's plan didn't make it and he was labeled a traitor, disgraced like Man E, who fit the physical profile of the prince. Interestingly, the Screaming Mummy has similar DNA markers and Y chromosomes to Ramesses III. It's likely that Man E and Ramesses III were father and son.
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(#1) His Hands And Feet Are Bound And He Wasn't Properly Mummified
The Screaming Mummy was notably different from others mummies Egyptologists have found previously, which raised red flags for scientists. One notable difference was that rather than linen, he was wrapped in sheepskin, which the purity-obsessed Egyptians regarded as unclean. Only offenders or people damned for eternity would have been entombed in such a manner.
Also, his coffin was unmarked - no one could recite his name in the afterlife, which was a big deal - and his hands and feet were bound, as if he had perished a prisoner. He wasn't even truly mummified properly (it's a long, drawn-out process), just dried out in natron with resin placed in his mouth.
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(#10) During The Egyptian Uprising In 2011, He Was One Of The Few Mummies Protestors Left Alone
When the Egyptian revolution of 2011 rocked the northeastern African nation, much of its cultural heritage came under fire. In particular, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo suffered a number of losses. Dr. Zahi Hawass reported that many priceless artifacts disappeared and two mummies were wrecked. However, looters left the Screaming Mummy alone.
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