This mummy, housed in the Luxor Museum, dates from the 18th Dynasty in Ancient Egypt, approximately 1250 BCE. It rested within a coffin constructed from sycomore fig wood, providing important evidence of burial customs and preservation methods from this period. The coffin exterior, adorned with carvings and hieroglyphic inscriptions, provokes understanding of the then prevalent societal hierarchy and religious doctrines.
The probable identity of the mummy, deduced from the sarcophagus inscriptions, is that of a male named Ahmose – a name translating as "Born of the Moon," revealing the moon’s significant role within ancient Egyptian cosmology. The sarcophagus lid is crafted to represent protective deities, paralleling the civilization's faith in an afterlife and divine protection securing eternal peace.
The physical state of the mummy reveals the sophisticated mummification process of the era. The corpse, meticulously wrapped in linen, exemplifies the skills and techniques used for preservation. The extraction of the brain and abdominal organs, an indication of the natron drying method, demonstrates the emphasis placed on the maintenance and potential resurrection of the body in the afterlife.
The grave goods discovered alongside the mummy provide evidence of funerary traditions and societal norms of ancient Egypt, including the presence of jewelry, food offerings, amulets, and model servants, intended for the provision of the deceased in the next life.
Despite ongoing academic debate regarding Ahmose's social status, the well-executed preservation techniques, combined with the detailed artistic work and inscriptions on the coffin, imply a position of high social rank.
