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The radiography of mummies of ancient Egyptians
P. H. K. Gray
The Radiography of Mummies Egyptians*
of Ancient
In recent times 193 mummia of ancient Egyptians have been X-rayed. The sources of the specimens are given followed by a brief summary of the medical findings. Received 18 April 1969
1.introduction Of the countless mummies found in Egypt during the past comparatively fav have been scientifically investigated, and reliable accounts are scarce. In the nineteenth century, the works of Granville (1825), Osburn (1828) and Pettigrew (1834) are notable exceptions. In this century our knowledge of m ummies has increased considerably thanks to the works of Smith, (1906,1912,1914; Smith & Wood Jones 1910; Smith & Dawson, 1924), Ruffer (1925), Derry (1942), Batrawi (1935), Lucas (1962), Dawson (1927) and Sandison ( 1969). Within three years of Roentegen’s discovery, Petrie (1898) made use of radiographs, and shortly afterwards Elliot Smith X-rayed the mummy of Tuthmosis IV. From then on, apart from Moodie (1931), .this simple, non-destructive method of investigation has more or less been completely ignored. In 1960 it was decided to X-ray the mummy of Pa er Abu, a youngish male adult dating from the very late Dynastic period. This mummy is in the Haslemere Educational Museum. As the results proved satisfactory it was considered worthwhile to carry on with the work, and since then the writer has either X-rayed or examined the radiographs of the following: (a) British Museum. 78 specimens. (Gray & Dawson, 1968) ; (b) Horniman Museum, London. 8 specimens. (Gray, 1968) ; (c) Gulbenkian Museum, Durhan. 1 specimen. (Gray, 1966a) ; (d) Hancock Museum, Newcastle. 2 specimens. (Gray, 1967a) ; (e) Truro County Museum. 1 specimen. (Gray, 1970a) ; (f) Pri nce Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. 2 specimens; (g) Fitswilliam Museum, Cambridge. 1 specimen; (h) Girton College, Cambridge. 1 specimen; (i) Dept. of Anatomy, Cambridge University. 2 specimens;t (j) Torquay Natural History Museum. 1 specimen; (k) Castle Museum, Norwich. 2 specimens; (1) Leeds Museum. 1 specimen. This is the mummy described by Osburn in 1828. The writer has radiographs of this specimen, taken prior to its destruction by enemy + This paper formed one of the contributions to a Symposium on Population Biology of the Early Egyptians organized by B. A. ChiareUi (Institute of Anthropology, University of Turin) and D. R. Brothwell (British Museum of Natural History, London). The Symposium was held at the Montaldo Castle (Turin) from April 16th to 18th 1969. 7 These mummies are now to be found in the British Museum (Natural History).
Joumal of Human J&ohdion (1973) 2,51-53.
52 action
P. H.
during
the recent
(n) Ashmolean
World
Museum,
K.
GRAY
War;
Oxford.
(m)
Castle
Museum,
5 specimens;
(0)
Colchester.
Prior
to export
1 specimen; to Australia.
1
specimen; (p) Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. 11 specimens; (q) Munich, Bavaria. 7 specimens. (These are in the Agyptische Sammlung der Universitat Miinchen. Information
and radiographs
van Oudheden, 1 specimen.
Leiden.
kindly supplied by Dr Erik Matouschek)
27 specimens.
An unusual
case.
(19666);
(s) Middleburgh
In this instance
the embalmers
bones to the legs in order to make the body fit the coffin. case, Pl. XIV,
in which the embalmers
deliberately
arms and legs in order to make it fit the coffin; A case of hydrocephalus 1 specimen.
(v) City
in a child
of Liverpool
historian
and Egyptologist
been damaged of period
was detected.
removed.
by the embalming
of this type it would not be practicable lections,
or to reproduce
a very brief medical
radiographs.
summary
indicate
of an adult appears
(u) Bibliothtque
18 specimens.
Life expectancy
or empty coffins in the various
survey, many items of interest to the medical 1966c). In no case has the specimen It has corrected many errors of attribution technique), age at death and sex. In a note
to enumerate
the findings
Summary
custom,
5 ft 2 in. and 5 ft 4 in.
was almost certainly
of the Roman
or demonstrate
to be certain.
this is not surprising
in the various
col-
However,
(on 193 mummies)
periods were encountered,
the case with regard to child mummies is not possible
Paris.
Museum,
that these people were of slight build, and the average
dating from the Dynastic
in burial
a
may not be out of place.
to have been between
must have been frequent.
change
Nationale,
(w) National
suggests that restrictive foot gear was not worn. Judging from exhibiting lines of arrested growth (Hains, 1933), illnesses during of children
long
illustrates
These details must be sought elsewhere.
2. Medical The radiographs
(1931)
have come to light (Gray,
or the wrappings
(as revealed
Moodie
Holland. extra
the body by mutilating the (t) Musee du Louvre, Paris. 16 specimens.
Museums.
skeletal
have added
shortened
Dublin. 5 specimens. (Gray & Slow, 1968). The above list does not include numerous fake mummies collections. As a result of this radiographic
; (r) Rijksmuseum Museum,
a higher
period.
into account
the numerous the formative
cases years
Very few mummies
but this was by no means Does this disparity reflect a
child mortality
In no case was it possible
when taking
low.
height
The state of the feet
during
this era?
to state the cause of death,
the high death
rate caused
It but
by diseases
which leave no trace upon bone. By far the commonest pathological conditions were dental disease and spinal disease. The former has been dealt with elsewhere, but a brief note on the latter may not prove amiss. It has long been known that this condition Egyptians, earlierwriters referring to it as“ rheumatoid “arthritis deformans”, “ankylosing spondylitis”, most likely be diagnosed as simple osteo-arthritis the low life expectancy,
it is suggested
ageing or wear-and-tear (aetiology uncertain).
process;
Other items of medical (Gray, 1968), osteogenesis 1967c).
The commonest
was common amongst the ancient arthritis”, “spondylitis deformans”,
and so on. Today the changes would of the degenerative type. In view of
that the cause cannot
a more cautious
diagnosis
be entirely
attributed
to an
could be spinal arthropathy
interest include gall stones (Gray, 19676), bone infraction imperfecta (Gray, 19706) and arterial calcification (Gray,
ante-mortem
fracture
proved to be that of the hip.
RADIOOR4F’W
OF MUMblIES
OF ANCIENT
EOYPTIANS
53
No evidence has been found to date of the following important diseases. (a) Mahgnant
neoptasia. The low life expectancy must be borne in mind. (b) Tuberculosis.
(c) Syphilis.
(d) L.ejrosy. (e) Rickets. In view of the abundancy of sunshine and vitamins this condition must have been uncommon, if it occurred at all. I would like to express my indebtedness to the late Warren R. Dawson who placed his vast knowledge of mummi fication and the various embalming processes at my disposal. Acquaintance with the different embalming techniques is essential for the interpretation of mummy radiographs. References Batrawi, A. (1935).
Mission Archiologiquede Nubie, 1929-34.
Human Remains. Cairo: Government Press, Bukiq. Dawaon, W. R. (1927). Making a mummy. Jownal of E#ian Archawlogy 13,40-49. Deny, D. E. (1942). On mummification methods practised at diierent periods. Ann&s du &vice &s a&quirls de 1%&t I&24&265. Granville, A. B. (1825). An essay on Egyptian mummies: with observations on the art of embalming among Ancient Egyptians. Philos@hical Transactions of the Royal Sock@ 115,269-3 10. Gray, P. H. K. (1966a). Embalmers’ restorations. Joumal of EgyPtian Archawlogy 52, 138-140. Gray, P. H. K. (19666). Radiological aspects of the mummi es of Ancient Egyptians in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden. Oua%idkundigeMe&delin Gen uit het Rijksmuseznn van O&eiden te Leiden. 47,1-30. Gray, P. H. K. (19666). Abrkfged Proceedings of the Fourth Sym~sitnn on Calcified Tissue. Amsterdam: Excerpta MediCa. Gray, P. H. K. (1967a). Two mummi es of Ancient Egyptians in the Hancock Museum, Newcastle. Journal of E&&an Archawlo~ 55,75-78. Gray, P. H. K. (19676). Radiography of Ancient Egyptian mummies. Medical Radiography and Photograjhy 43,3444. with special reference to similar changes found in mummies Gray, P. H. K. (1967~). Calcinosis invtibralis, ofancient Egyptians. In (D. R. Brothwell & A. T. San&on, Eds), Diseases in Antiquity,p. 20. Springfield, Ill: Thomas. Gray, P. H. K. (1968). Bone infraction in antiquity. Clinical Radiology 19,436-437. Gray, P. H. K. (1969). Recent work on the radiographic study of Egyptian mummies. In (D. R. Brothwell & E. S. Higgx, Eds), S&ace in Archaeology, pp. 521623. 2nd ed. London: Thanxs and Hudson. Gray, P. H. K. (1970a). An account of a mummy in the County Museum and Art Gallery, Truro. Journal of E&t&an An&n& 56.132-134. Griy, FI H. K. (l‘97Gb). br -case of osteogenais imperfecta associated with dentinogenesis imperfecta dating from antiquity. Cliaical Radiolon 21, 106-108. Gray, P. H.-K.- & Dawson, W. R. (1968). Catalogue of Eg@tian Antiquities in the British Museum. Vol. 1. Mummies andHuman Remains. London: Oxford University Pram. Gray, P. H. K. & Slow, D. (1968). Egyptian mummies in the City of Liverpool Museums. Liver&o1 Museums Bulletin 15, l-76. Hains, H. A. (1933). Bone Growth in Health and Disease. London: Oxford University Press. Lucas, A. (1962). Mummification. In (J. R. Hainson, Ed.), AncientE&tian Materials and Industries. 4th ed. London: Edward Arnold. Moodie, R. L. (1931). RoeatgetwlogicStudies of Egyptian and Pen&n Mummies. Chicago Field Museum of Natural History. Anthropological Series 3. O&urn, W. (1828). Account of an Eierptian mummy,presented to the museum of L&r, Philosophicaland Literary SO&Q by the late John Blaaks Esq. Leeds: Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. Petrie, W. M. F. (1898). Desasheh 1897. Cairo: 15th Memoir Egypt Exploration Fund. Plate XMVII. Pettigrew, T. J. (1834). History of Egyptian Mummiea. London: Longmans. RufTer, M. A. (1921). In (R. L. Moodie, Ed.), Stuaks in thePalaeophoZogy of E&t. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Sandison, A. T. (1969). Study of mummified and dried human tissues. In (D. R. Brothwell & E. S. Higga, Eda), S&ace in Arc~logy. 2nd ed. London: Thames and Hudson. Smith, G. E. (1906). Contributions to the Study of mummi6cation. Mhircs pr&ent& Z’Znstitut Egyptien d t. v, fame. I, Cairo, pp. l-53. Smith, G. E. (1912). l% Royal Mummiss. Cairo: Cat. gen. Mus. Smith, G. E. (1914). Egyptian mummi es. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 1,189-196. Smith, G. E. 8t Dawson, W. R. (1924). EgyptimrMummies.London: Allen and Unwin. 2% Archaeological Swvg of Nubia. Re#ort on the Human Remains. Smith, G. E. & Wood-Jones, F. (1910). Vol. 2, p. 129.
The Radiography of Mummies Egyptians*
of Ancient
In recent times 193 mummia of ancient Egyptians have been X-rayed. The sources of the specimens are given followed by a brief summary of the medical findings. Received 18 April 1969
1.introduction Of the countless mummies found in Egypt during the past comparatively fav have been scientifically investigated, and reliable accounts are scarce. In the nineteenth century, the works of Granville (1825), Osburn (1828) and Pettigrew (1834) are notable exceptions. In this century our knowledge of m ummies has increased considerably thanks to the works of Smith, (1906,1912,1914; Smith & Wood Jones 1910; Smith & Dawson, 1924), Ruffer (1925), Derry (1942), Batrawi (1935), Lucas (1962), Dawson (1927) and Sandison ( 1969). Within three years of Roentegen’s discovery, Petrie (1898) made use of radiographs, and shortly afterwards Elliot Smith X-rayed the mummy of Tuthmosis IV. From then on, apart from Moodie (1931), .this simple, non-destructive method of investigation has more or less been completely ignored. In 1960 it was decided to X-ray the mummy of Pa er Abu, a youngish male adult dating from the very late Dynastic period. This mummy is in the Haslemere Educational Museum. As the results proved satisfactory it was considered worthwhile to carry on with the work, and since then the writer has either X-rayed or examined the radiographs of the following: (a) British Museum. 78 specimens. (Gray & Dawson, 1968) ; (b) Horniman Museum, London. 8 specimens. (Gray, 1968) ; (c) Gulbenkian Museum, Durhan. 1 specimen. (Gray, 1966a) ; (d) Hancock Museum, Newcastle. 2 specimens. (Gray, 1967a) ; (e) Truro County Museum. 1 specimen. (Gray, 1970a) ; (f) Pri nce Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter. 2 specimens; (g) Fitswilliam Museum, Cambridge. 1 specimen; (h) Girton College, Cambridge. 1 specimen; (i) Dept. of Anatomy, Cambridge University. 2 specimens;t (j) Torquay Natural History Museum. 1 specimen; (k) Castle Museum, Norwich. 2 specimens; (1) Leeds Museum. 1 specimen. This is the mummy described by Osburn in 1828. The writer has radiographs of this specimen, taken prior to its destruction by enemy + This paper formed one of the contributions to a Symposium on Population Biology of the Early Egyptians organized by B. A. ChiareUi (Institute of Anthropology, University of Turin) and D. R. Brothwell (British Museum of Natural History, London). The Symposium was held at the Montaldo Castle (Turin) from April 16th to 18th 1969. 7 These mummies are now to be found in the British Museum (Natural History).
Joumal of Human J&ohdion (1973) 2,51-53.
52 action
P. H.
during
the recent
(n) Ashmolean
World
Museum,
K.
GRAY
War;
Oxford.
(m)
Castle
Museum,
5 specimens;
(0)
Colchester.
Prior
to export
1 specimen; to Australia.
1
specimen; (p) Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. 11 specimens; (q) Munich, Bavaria. 7 specimens. (These are in the Agyptische Sammlung der Universitat Miinchen. Information
and radiographs
van Oudheden, 1 specimen.
Leiden.
kindly supplied by Dr Erik Matouschek)
27 specimens.
An unusual
case.
(19666);
(s) Middleburgh
In this instance
the embalmers
bones to the legs in order to make the body fit the coffin. case, Pl. XIV,
in which the embalmers
deliberately
arms and legs in order to make it fit the coffin; A case of hydrocephalus 1 specimen.
(v) City
in a child
of Liverpool
historian
and Egyptologist
been damaged of period
was detected.
removed.
by the embalming
of this type it would not be practicable lections,
or to reproduce
a very brief medical
radiographs.
summary
indicate
of an adult appears
(u) Bibliothtque
18 specimens.
Life expectancy
or empty coffins in the various
survey, many items of interest to the medical 1966c). In no case has the specimen It has corrected many errors of attribution technique), age at death and sex. In a note
to enumerate
the findings
Summary
custom,
5 ft 2 in. and 5 ft 4 in.
was almost certainly
of the Roman
or demonstrate
to be certain.
this is not surprising
in the various
col-
However,
(on 193 mummies)
periods were encountered,
the case with regard to child mummies is not possible
Paris.
Museum,
that these people were of slight build, and the average
dating from the Dynastic
in burial
a
may not be out of place.
to have been between
must have been frequent.
change
Nationale,
(w) National
suggests that restrictive foot gear was not worn. Judging from exhibiting lines of arrested growth (Hains, 1933), illnesses during of children
long
illustrates
These details must be sought elsewhere.
2. Medical The radiographs
(1931)
have come to light (Gray,
or the wrappings
(as revealed
Moodie
Holland. extra
the body by mutilating the (t) Musee du Louvre, Paris. 16 specimens.
Museums.
skeletal
have added
shortened
Dublin. 5 specimens. (Gray & Slow, 1968). The above list does not include numerous fake mummies collections. As a result of this radiographic
; (r) Rijksmuseum Museum,
a higher
period.
into account
the numerous the formative
cases years
Very few mummies
but this was by no means Does this disparity reflect a
child mortality
In no case was it possible
when taking
low.
height
The state of the feet
during
this era?
to state the cause of death,
the high death
rate caused
It but
by diseases
which leave no trace upon bone. By far the commonest pathological conditions were dental disease and spinal disease. The former has been dealt with elsewhere, but a brief note on the latter may not prove amiss. It has long been known that this condition Egyptians, earlierwriters referring to it as“ rheumatoid “arthritis deformans”, “ankylosing spondylitis”, most likely be diagnosed as simple osteo-arthritis the low life expectancy,
it is suggested
ageing or wear-and-tear (aetiology uncertain).
process;
Other items of medical (Gray, 1968), osteogenesis 1967c).
The commonest
was common amongst the ancient arthritis”, “spondylitis deformans”,
and so on. Today the changes would of the degenerative type. In view of
that the cause cannot
a more cautious
diagnosis
be entirely
attributed
to an
could be spinal arthropathy
interest include gall stones (Gray, 19676), bone infraction imperfecta (Gray, 19706) and arterial calcification (Gray,
ante-mortem
fracture
proved to be that of the hip.
RADIOOR4F’W
OF MUMblIES
OF ANCIENT
EOYPTIANS
53
No evidence has been found to date of the following important diseases. (a) Mahgnant
neoptasia. The low life expectancy must be borne in mind. (b) Tuberculosis.
(c) Syphilis.
(d) L.ejrosy. (e) Rickets. In view of the abundancy of sunshine and vitamins this condition must have been uncommon, if it occurred at all. I would like to express my indebtedness to the late Warren R. Dawson who placed his vast knowledge of mummi fication and the various embalming processes at my disposal. Acquaintance with the different embalming techniques is essential for the interpretation of mummy radiographs. References Batrawi, A. (1935).
Mission Archiologiquede Nubie, 1929-34.
Human Remains. Cairo: Government Press, Bukiq. Dawaon, W. R. (1927). Making a mummy. Jownal of E#ian Archawlogy 13,40-49. Deny, D. E. (1942). On mummification methods practised at diierent periods. Ann&s du &vice &s a&quirls de 1%&t I&24&265. Granville, A. B. (1825). An essay on Egyptian mummies: with observations on the art of embalming among Ancient Egyptians. Philos@hical Transactions of the Royal Sock@ 115,269-3 10. Gray, P. H. K. (1966a). Embalmers’ restorations. Joumal of EgyPtian Archawlogy 52, 138-140. Gray, P. H. K. (19666). Radiological aspects of the mummi es of Ancient Egyptians in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden. Oua%idkundigeMe&delin Gen uit het Rijksmuseznn van O&eiden te Leiden. 47,1-30. Gray, P. H. K. (19666). Abrkfged Proceedings of the Fourth Sym~sitnn on Calcified Tissue. Amsterdam: Excerpta MediCa. Gray, P. H. K. (1967a). Two mummi es of Ancient Egyptians in the Hancock Museum, Newcastle. Journal of E&&an Archawlo~ 55,75-78. Gray, P. H. K. (19676). Radiography of Ancient Egyptian mummies. Medical Radiography and Photograjhy 43,3444. with special reference to similar changes found in mummies Gray, P. H. K. (1967~). Calcinosis invtibralis, ofancient Egyptians. In (D. R. Brothwell & A. T. San&on, Eds), Diseases in Antiquity,p. 20. Springfield, Ill: Thomas. Gray, P. H. K. (1968). Bone infraction in antiquity. Clinical Radiology 19,436-437. Gray, P. H. K. (1969). Recent work on the radiographic study of Egyptian mummies. In (D. R. Brothwell & E. S. Higgx, Eds), S&ace in Archaeology, pp. 521623. 2nd ed. London: Thanxs and Hudson. Gray, P. H. K. (1970a). An account of a mummy in the County Museum and Art Gallery, Truro. Journal of E&t&an An&n& 56.132-134. Griy, FI H. K. (l‘97Gb). br -case of osteogenais imperfecta associated with dentinogenesis imperfecta dating from antiquity. Cliaical Radiolon 21, 106-108. Gray, P. H.-K.- & Dawson, W. R. (1968). Catalogue of Eg@tian Antiquities in the British Museum. Vol. 1. Mummies andHuman Remains. London: Oxford University Pram. Gray, P. H. K. & Slow, D. (1968). Egyptian mummies in the City of Liverpool Museums. Liver&o1 Museums Bulletin 15, l-76. Hains, H. A. (1933). Bone Growth in Health and Disease. London: Oxford University Press. Lucas, A. (1962). Mummification. In (J. R. Hainson, Ed.), AncientE&tian Materials and Industries. 4th ed. London: Edward Arnold. Moodie, R. L. (1931). RoeatgetwlogicStudies of Egyptian and Pen&n Mummies. Chicago Field Museum of Natural History. Anthropological Series 3. O&urn, W. (1828). Account of an Eierptian mummy,presented to the museum of L&r, Philosophicaland Literary SO&Q by the late John Blaaks Esq. Leeds: Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. Petrie, W. M. F. (1898). Desasheh 1897. Cairo: 15th Memoir Egypt Exploration Fund. Plate XMVII. Pettigrew, T. J. (1834). History of Egyptian Mummiea. London: Longmans. RufTer, M. A. (1921). In (R. L. Moodie, Ed.), Stuaks in thePalaeophoZogy of E&t. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Sandison, A. T. (1969). Study of mummified and dried human tissues. In (D. R. Brothwell & E. S. Higga, Eda), S&ace in Arc~logy. 2nd ed. London: Thames and Hudson. Smith, G. E. (1906). Contributions to the Study of mummi6cation. Mhircs pr&ent& Z’Znstitut Egyptien d t. v, fame. I, Cairo, pp. l-53. Smith, G. E. (1912). l% Royal Mummiss. Cairo: Cat. gen. Mus. Smith, G. E. (1914). Egyptian mummi es. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 1,189-196. Smith, G. E. 8t Dawson, W. R. (1924). EgyptimrMummies.London: Allen and Unwin. 2% Archaeological Swvg of Nubia. Re#ort on the Human Remains. Smith, G. E. & Wood-Jones, F. (1910). Vol. 2, p. 129.