Meritamen Mummy the Royal Mummy from Ancient Egypt

was an Egyptian queen who lived in the 14th century BCE. She was married to two pharaohs, Amenhotep II and his son Thutmose IV. Despite her high status, not much is famous about her life except that she was a mother to at least three sons who became pharaohs in their own right. Her legacy, however, lives on through her mummified remains, which were there in the Valley of the Kings in 1903.

Meritamen’s mummy

It was in a hidden tomb in the Valley of Kings, along with the mummies of several other royal figures. The tomb was likely a hidden cache for the mummified remains of royal family members.The mummies moved to this location in an attempt to keep them safe from tomb robbers. The mummy of Meritamen was famous for her cartouche. The cartouche contained her name and titles, including her role as queen, wife of Amenhotep II and mother of Thutmose IV. The tomb also contained a number of grave goods, including funerary masks, ushabti figurines, and amulets, all intended to protect and assist Meritamen in the afterlife.

The mummification process used on Meritamen’s body was typical of that used for other high status individuals in ancient Egypt. Her body was first cleaned and eviscerated, and then treated with natron salt to dry out the tissues. 

overall

Despite being over 3,000 years old, Meritamen’s mummy is in surprisingly good condition. She was likely well cared for in life, as evidenced by the many elaborate grave goods placed in her tomb. Today, her mummy is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Where it remains a testament to the power and wealth of ancient Egypt.