Chronic maxillary atelectasis under the wrappings of an Egyptian mummy

Abstract

Objectives: In the context of a joint Mummy Research Project of the National Archaeological Museum, the Hellenic Institute of Egyptology and the Athens Medical Centre, an Egyptian mummy of the mid-Ptolemaic Period was transferred to our hospital and was thoroughly investigated with Computed Tomography. Methods: The mummy was carefully removed from its coffin and scanned in a 64-detector row computed tomographic scanner. Multiplanar and anthropometric measurements were obtained using advanced software. Results: The mummy appeared to be well-preserved and belonged to a young male adult. Among the findings, the most interesting and uncommon one was the asymmetry of the maxillary sinuses and the orbits. There were no signs of trauma. Conclusions: Computed Tomography revealed in a non-destructive way a rare, based on the published data, facial deformity in an Egyptian mummy attributed to chronic maxillary atelectasis.

Application of smart informatics in Egyptology: the Athens Mummy Project as an example of effective interdisciplinarity

“…3a-3b] 24 , with a (cadaveric) height of 1.45 m. The CT-Scanning revealed wear in the pelvis and a post mortem dislocation of the pelvic bones. From the careful study of the results of the CT-Scanning for this mummy, one unexpected conclusion was deduced: this ancient Egyptian individual was suffering from a rare syndrome, discussed in another paper [Michailidis, Kyriazi, Maravelia et al 2019, 1165-1169, a fact proven by our unusual finding concerning the skull; that situation and the possible social implications in this person's life are thoroughly discussed in our paper [Michailidis, Kyriazi, Maravelia et. al 2019, 1167-1168.…”

“…There was no evidence of brain removal, the brain remnants having shrunk and sunk inside the cranial cavity (Fig. 10-11) and we have observed that the ethmoid cells and the cribriform plate were intact [Michailidis, Kyriazi, Maravelia et al 2019, 1166, a fact meaning that there was no attempt of transnasal excerebration during the mummification of this particular individual, which was a very common practice in many ancient Egyptian mummies [Fanous, Couldwell 2012, 743-748;Cockburn et al 2006, 21]. According to the funerary and religious beliefs of the Egyptians, the heart ( Fig.…”

“…On the right, the coffin of Sekhem (AIG 3343), with barely discernible hieroglyphic inscription. © Copyright & Courtesy of the National Archaeological Museum,Athens, Hellas, 2004, 2019…”

Cephalometric Characteristics in Skulls with Artificial Deformation in a Pre-Columbian Civilization of the Peruvian Andes (Chavin Civilization 900 B.C. to 200 B.C.)

“…Likewise, artificial cranial modification may have been used to identify ethnic populations, as demonstrated by Andean bio-archaeological studies. [ 10 11 12 13 14 ]…”