Scientists Unveil the Secrets of the "Golden Boy" Mummy After 2,300 Years of Preservation

the Secrets of the "Golden Boy" Mummy Uncovered After 2,300 Years

new research has revealed a incredible find—a 2,300 year old mummy of a 14-15 year old boy covered in gold, predates Tutankhamun. The mummy was first found in 1916 but sat in storage at the egyptian museum in Cairo for over 100 years.

Advanced Imaging Technology

the mummy, now known as the "Golden Boy", was revealed through a detailed study led by Dr. Sahar Saleem, Professor of Radiology at Cairo University. Using digital tomographic scanning the team found that the mummy is wearing 49 amulets with 21 different designs, many of them made of gold. This is the first time the mummy has been examined without unwrapping showing a high quality mummification process where internal organs and brain were removed.

Inside Ancient Egyptian High Society

The CT scans show that the boy was from the upper class of ancient Egyptian society, his teeth and bones are well preserved, no signs of malnutrition or disease. The mummy was found in a tomb beneath a 15 meter deep shaft in Saqqara, with 3 other tombs of prominent people.

A New Era in Archaeology

Dr. Saleem says this is just the beginning of many discoveries to come. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo which has been storing many of these treasures since 1835 now has the technology to examine these ancient remains without damaging them.

Golden Objects and their Meanings

The imaging also shows a golden tongue in the mouth, a heart scarab amulet in the chest and sandals with fern wreaths. These were to protect and vitalize the deceased for the afterlife.

The "Golden Boy" mummy is from the late Ptolemaic period (332-30 BC) and was found in Edfu, Egypt. It was wrapped in 2 coffins, an outer one with Greek inscriptions and an inner wooden coffin, and the boy was wearing a golden face mask.