Ancient Egyptian Mummy Has Sophisticated Pattern Woven Around Head

While visiting the Louvre, Redditor sbay captured and shared the astonishing intricacies of a mummy's head wrapping. Unlike the image of a mummy we're used to (with a winding wrap), this well-preserved man had his skull carefully encased in strips of linen with a sophisticated, interwoven square pattern covering his entire face. In addition to the incredible binding, the overall cartonnage includes a wide collar over the chest, a decorative apron across the legs, and casing over the feet.

According to the museum, X-rays revealed that this mummy was an adult who lived during the Ptolemaic Period (305 BC to 30 BC) in Ancient Egypt. They aren't sure of his name, but believe that it's either Pachery or Nenu, and the fact that he was preserved is an indication that he was fortunate during his mortal life–this funerary process ensured his survival into eternity.

via [Reddit]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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