The Mystery of the Screaming Man
For almost 130 years, the 3000 year old mummified remains of a man, his face contorted into an agonising scream, has perplexed scientists and Egyptologists alike. Does modern science now have the answers about this tormented soul?
In 1881, 300 miles south of Cairo, in the Deir El Bahri valley, tombs, hidden from the world for centuries were uncovered.
Here were discovered the remains of some of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs: Rameses the Great, Seti I and Tuthmosis III.
Yet puzzlingly amongst these great pharaohs in an unmarked and unadorned sarcophagus lay the body of a man whose face was frozen in agony.
The hands and feet were bound and the body was uncharacteristically wrapped in a sheep or goat skin:surprisingly, as this was seen as being ritually unclean.
In 1886 three men tied to uncover the mystery on “man E” as he was now called.
They were Gaston Maspero, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, the physician Fouque and chemist Mathey. During the autopsy they reported that he smelled worse than usual and his internal organs had been unusually “flash mummified” with quick lime rather than by traditional methods. Fouque concluded that he had been poisoned,
“the last convulsions of horrid agony can, after thousands of years, still be seen”
But who was he, and why had he been bound so tightly that the binding marks were visible on his bones? Why had he been entombed in such a way that his soul would be damned and barred from everlasting life?
Maspero offered the theories that the unskilled mummification could point to “man E” being a governor who died abroad and was brought home, or a prince of the Hittites, enemies of the Pharaoh.
Now, almost 130 years later, it is believed that the “screaming man” can be identified.
With the use of contemporary documents, x-rays, CT scanning and facial reconstruction, scientists are convinced that the man is Prince Pentewere, elder son of Rameses III.
Dr Susan Redford, an Egyptologist from Pennsylvania State University, points out that an ancient papyrus scroll details a plot by Tiy, the wife of Rameses III, to dethrone her husband in favor of their son, even though he was not the nominated heir.
‘The scroll tells us that the coup was very quickly discovered and the plotters brought to trial,’ she explained. “They were sentenced to death, but the papyrus also tells us that Pentewere was spared this fate. Perhaps because of his royal status he was allowed to commit suicide.” Most probably with poison.
It is said that the poison is the reason for the scream captured on his face
Contrary to the 1886 findings, the CT scan revealed that the body had all the internal organs removed, in the traditional way of mummification.
Analysis of the bone joints and teeth show that the man was between 25 and 40 years old, matching the age of Pentewere. Using modern forensic techniques it was possible to create a 3D view of the cranium revealing the characteristics of an ancient Egyptian.
While the reason for the method of burial may never be fully explained, Dr Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt”s Supreme Council of Antiquities said:
“It seems to me this man has been sitting in the Cairo Museum waiting for someone to identify him, Now I really do believe that this unknown man is not unknown any more.”
Other Mysteries by this writer
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User Comments
Rask Balavoine
On December 2, 2008 at 9:36 am
Cremation has a lot to say for itself – t’would spare us the agony of unravelling secrets we wouldn’t be aware of.
Lucas Dié
On December 2, 2008 at 9:46 am
Great one!
Debra.
On December 2, 2008 at 10:09 am
Now your right up my alley! I have followed this case of man-E on the Discovery channel from the beginning. It was one of the most fascinating cases other than the remains of a small black boy found in Egypt, who was mummified almost two thousand years before any of the Egyptians mummies. Excellent article! Very interesting info! God bless.
Patrick Bernauw
On December 2, 2008 at 10:30 am
What a fascinating story!
Eric Mendoza
On December 2, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Very interesting indeed.
gabbic1219
On December 2, 2008 at 1:51 pm
my visions of his face were scary,you put such depth into your write,i could see it!this was interesting to read,thanx…gabbi AKA..big cab:)
S A JOHNSON
On December 2, 2008 at 2:52 pm
That was very interesting to read, thanks for sharing! ^_^
MJPatrick
On December 2, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Well written.Excellent job.
clay Hurtubise
On December 2, 2008 at 4:54 pm
That may have been me in a prior life! Kidding! Great piece.
Thanks,
Clay
Lauren Axelrod
On December 2, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Be still my heart C. Your right up my alley with this one. I have an obsession with Tut so I was so happy to see a piece on a more cerebral subject. Well done
Ruby Hawk
On December 2, 2008 at 8:29 pm
How interesting, I have read about the unknown mummy but never investigated further. Now you have told me the whole story. I enjoyed the read. Ruby
CHAN LEE PENG
On December 2, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Interesting read, thanks!
Inna Tysoe
On December 3, 2008 at 12:53 am
Interesting read.
Thanks!
Inna
Mary Contrary
On December 3, 2008 at 2:37 am
Thanks for clearing that one up. It’s creepy! Great job!
I enjoyed reading it very much!
Joshua Miguel
On December 3, 2008 at 3:55 am
great read. i agree with Mary, its creepy article. well done.
Jasin
On December 3, 2008 at 5:40 am
Great article, I love mummy stories.
Unofre Pili
On December 3, 2008 at 7:48 am
Very interesting. Nice article.
eddiego65
On December 3, 2008 at 7:56 am
Interesting article.
Lost in Arizona
On December 3, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I’ve always loved Egyptology and the study of mummies. This one escaped my knowledge, so I am glad to have caught this article. Poor guy, it must have been an excruciating death, Goes to show, don’t try to plan a coup unless you can actually succeed. Interesting read.
R J Evans
On December 4, 2008 at 1:24 am
Would have like to have seen a picture! This really spiked my curiosity!
Hein Marais
On December 4, 2008 at 8:19 am
Creepy.
Debra.
On December 4, 2008 at 8:58 am
Oh, what a ghastly sight! Still very interesting to look.
C Jordan
On December 4, 2008 at 9:09 am
Photo back in the article
S A JOHNSON
On December 4, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I’m glad they put the photo back in. ^_^
Lost in Arizona
On December 4, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Had to come back and check out the picture. Ee cripes! The poor man looked like he died in agony.It’s interesting to note, that in a very strange way, his corpse looks very much like his father’s, Ramses III. Absolutely bizarre.
clay Hurtubise
On December 4, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Nothing a little Oil of Olay won’t fix!
Clay
Launie and Melynda Sorrels
On December 10, 2008 at 10:28 pm
A very interesting and informative article. Good post.
julie jones
On December 14, 2008 at 9:56 am
very interesting i an clear this mystery up in 1 minute its my husband on a monday mornin after a nite out93
Adam Henry Sears
On December 28, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hi, C, how are you?
I’ve always liked a good mystery. Thanks for sharing such an interesting piece.
Yovita Siswati
On January 11, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Very interesting! Great work!
Betty Carew
On January 15, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I love these kinds of articles C so glad I found you. I will do more reading of your works when time permits. Excellent article!
Steven West
On January 15, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Very fascinating article. I enjoyed it a lot.
Bren Parks
On January 20, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Great read! I love reading about archaeology such as this…well done!
denus
On January 21, 2009 at 5:14 pm
wow I liked it, very good read!
Cheers,
Denus
PR Mace
On January 27, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Quite an interesting article.
Brian
On February 1, 2009 at 11:22 am
Very well written and interesting article
Rod Ferrandino
On February 26, 2009 at 12:20 pm
maybe this is the fellow who later disturbed the sleep of Edvard Munch
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