Scans uncover secrets of Egypt’s 2300-year-old Bashiri mummy

Modern technology has revealed new clues about a mysterious ancient Egyptian mummy that has never been unwrapped.

The Bashiri Mummy has long been called the “untouchable one”, as researchers have never attempted to unravel its intricately wrapped fabric to see who lies beneath.

The mystery of this mummy stretches back to its discovery.

It is believed by some sources that Egyptologist* Howard Carter* uncovered it in the Valley of the Kings*, The Sun reports.

It was in this same area that Carter would famously go on to uncover King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

But according to Discover magazine, the most that is known for sure is that the “untouchable one” was found, but that no researchers have dared tried to unwrap its cloth.

Before the invention of X-ray and CT scanners*, people would unwrap these ancient mummies to study them – causing severe damage.

New technology has lessened the need for such methods of study, allowing researchers to learn more about ancient artefacts while reducing harm to them.

According to the American Museum of Natural History, “In the past, the only way to learn about a mummy was to unwrap it.

“But this widespread practice destroyed the mummy, often detaching body parts.”

Now cutting-edge tech has brought them one step closer to understanding the mysteries of the Bashiri Mummy, with scans revealing fresh details.

The untouchable one’s face wrappings are said to be unique, featuring a pattern resembling the base of a pyramid.

Researchers have established that the Bashiri Mummy would have been an adult man who stood about 1.7m tall.

He would have lived in the Ptolemaic Era* – which spanned from 305BC to 30BC.

The estimated dates makes the mummy about 2300 years old.

The X-ray scan also showed an inscription of the man’s name, according to the Egypt Museum.

However, the name appears to have been hastily written and researchers are unsure whether the man was called Pacheri or Nenu.

The museum said that the mummy’s encasement was decorated with scenes, including “the mummy lying on a bed, surrounded by the goddesses Isis* and Nephtys*, and the four sons of Horus*.”

“The casing around the feet has two images of the funerary god Anubis*,” the museum added.

It was not the only incredible discovery of the ancient world unveiled in recent weeks.

A network of dimly lit tunnels was found under Rome’s Capitoline Hill*.

The secret underground city covers some 3,902 sqm under the Ancient Roman Forum* – and reaches depths of 300m below the surface.

It is expected to be open for visitors from late 2026 or early 2027, CNN has reported.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

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GLOSSARY

• Egyptologist: an expert on ancient Egypt
• Howard Carter: a British archaeologist and Egyptologist known for discovering the tomb of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamun
• Valley of the Kings: part of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes and the place where the pharaohs were buried from the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties
• CT scanners: computed tomography scanners use X-ray and computer imaging to create 3D images of the inside of your body or of an object being scanned
• Ptolemaic Era: the last dynasty of ancient Egypt before it was taken over by the Roman Republic in 30BC. It was named the Ptolemaic Era after Ptolemy, a Macedonian Greek General and the successor of Alexander the Great, who became satrap, or governor, of Egypt. Egypt had previously been conquered by Alexander the Great and become part of the Hellenic (Greek) Empire in 332BC
• Isis: a major goddess in ancient Egyptian mythology who was believed to help the dead enter the afterlife. She was also seen as the divine mother to the pharaoh
• Nephtys: a goddess and the sister of Isis, she was often paired with Isis in funerary rites and was associated with mourning
• Horus: an important god to the ancient Egyptians, often depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon head. Horus was associated with healing, protection, the sun and the sky
• Anubis: a god depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head, Anubis had a few different roles throughout the ages, including protector of graves, embalmer and god who ushered souls into the afterlife
• Capitoline Hill: the religious and political centre of ancient Rome where several temples were built. It is one of seven hills that Rome was founded on
• Forum: a place where public meetings were held, including law courts, lined with shops and open-air markets

EXTRA READING
King Tut’s dad built ancient town
Hidden twist found in pyramids
Was Tut a ‘hand-me-down’ king?

QUICK QUIZ
1. Why did early researchers unwrap mummies?
2. Why is the Bashiri mummy called “the untouchable one”?
3. How tall was the man who became known as the Bashiri mummy?
4. Which two names could he have possibly been called?
5. What was recently discovered in Rome?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Life after death
“Ancient Egyptians mummified their dead primarily because they believed in an afterlife and that preserving the body was essential for the soul’s (ka and ba) continued existence and ability to enjoy the afterlife. They believed the body was a necessary vessel for the soul to inhabit, and if the body decayed, the soul would be lost”.

How does this belief seem to you compared to your belief on how we bury our loved ones that have passed on? Do you like the idea of preserving your loved ones’ bodies, or do you have a different belief on what happens to their souls after they die?

Draw a diagram below on what you believe should be done when you, or someone you love, leaves this earth.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Write a detective report on what we know about this “untouchable” mummy and who it may have been.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Science, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during the event being discussed in the article, or for the interview.

Create a conversation between two characters from the article – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.

Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.