Ancient Egyptian priestess and singer Meresamun served in the Temple of Amun at Karnak approximately 2,800 years ago. Modern CT scanning technology allowed scientists to reconstruct her face for the first time in millennia and see what she might have looked like.
The mummy of Meresamun was discovered in an unopened, ornate coffin acquired in 1920 by American archaeologist James Henry Breasted. The coffin is decorated with numerous floral and religious symbols, indicating the woman's high social status.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Cicero Moraes, used skull scan data from the mummy to create a digital model. The facial reconstruction employed the anatomical deformation method, which allowed the facial shape of a living donor to be adapted to the mummy's parameters, with the addition of soft tissue thickness markers and subsequent refinement of details.
The result is a harmonious and serene face with features expressing dignity and gentleness. Meresamun died at the age of about 30, and her height was approximately 147 centimeters. The condition of the remains indicates that she was well-nourished and had no obvious signs of disease.
The role of the singer-priestess in the Temple of Amun was highly revered, and Meresamun likely came from a noble family in Thebes, where such a profession could be passed down through generations.
This discovery not only gives us insight into the appearance of one of the priestesses of ancient Egypt but also helps us better understand the social structure and cultural traditions of that time.