Revisiting the harem conspiracy and death of Ramesses III: anthropological, forensic, radiological, and genetic study

Hawass, Zahi; Ismail, Somaia; Selim, Ashraf; Saleem, Sahar N.; Fathalla, Dina; Wasef, Sally; Gad, Ahmed Z; Saad, Rama; Fares, Suzan; Amer, Hamada H.; Gostner, Paul; Gad, Yehia Z.; Pusch, Carsten M.; Zink, Albert

doi:10.1136/bmj.e8268

Cited by 30 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…For more detailed information on the sample selection criteria and the methods used see appendix. The study used the maximum available data for the kings of Egypt in physical existence from various sources (Maspero, ; Carter and Maspero, ; Smith, ; Derry, ; Partridge, ; Ikram and Dodson, ; Bickerstaffe, ; Hawass et al, ). From the Old and Middle Kingdom only fragments of royal mummy with dubious identification are known and thus cannot give reliable height information.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body height of mummified pharaohs supports historical suggestions of sibling marriages

Habicht

Henneberg

Öhrström

et al. 2015

American J Phys Anthropol

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Body height is an important factor in reconstructing health conditions and it serves as an indicator of socio-economic status. Researchers rely on ancient data to analyze evolutionary aspects of human health and its interrelation with environmental influences. This study presents body height estimates from all periods of ancient Egyptian history and compares the general population with the existing mummies of the members of royal families. A sample of 259 adult Egyptian mummies originating from various collections and published sources with body lengths (long bone measures or/and overall measurements, CT data) were analyzed, and royal mummies were scored with respect to the level of consanguinity. Male royals were taller than males in the general ancient Egyptian population, while female royals were shorter than females in the general population. The body height variation of the royals is significantly reduced when compared with a pool of non-royal mummies. This provides evidence for inbreeding resulting from consanguineous marriages. However, there appears to be no correlation between the level of inbreeding and individual body height. The random sample of general population does not show signs of inbreeding. Due to the present lack of larger, technically and ethically challenging genetic studies, the selected non-invasive approach of body height is the most reliable indicator of sibling marriages of pharaohs based on direct physical evidence.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body height of mummified pharaohs supports historical suggestions of sibling marriages

Habicht

Henneberg

Öhrström

et al. 2015

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…One can take the published autosomal STR Profile of Ramses III, a ruler from the later 20th Dynasty, ∼200 years later than Tutankhamun and compare it with some of the tested individuals from the 18th Dynasty (Hawass et al, ). Ramses III also shares two partial matches with KV 21A and one full and one partial match with Amenhotep III.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifications of ancient Egyptian royal mummies from the 18th Dynasty reconsidered

Habicht

Bouwman

Rühli

2016

American J Phys Anthropol

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For centuries, ancient Egyptian Royal mummies have drawn the attention both of the general public and scientists. Many royal mummies from the New Kingdom have survived. The discoveries of the bodies of these ancient rulers have always sparked much attention, yet not all identifications are clear even nowadays. This study presents a meta-analysis to demonstrate the difficulties in identifying ancient Egyptian royal mummies. Various methods and pitfalls in the identification of the Pharaohs are reassessed since new scientific methods can be used, such as ancient DNA-profiling and CT-scanning. While the ancestors of Tutankhamun have been identified, some identities are still highly controversial (e.g., the mystery of the KV-55 skeleton, recently most likely identified as the genetic father of Tutankhamun). The meta-analysis confirms the suggested identity of some mummies (e.g., Amenhotep III, Thutmosis IV, and Queen Tjye). Am J Phys Anthropol 159:S216-S231,

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“…To this regard, complete mummies are much more informative than mummy parts or only bones [1]. Fine examples for the potential of such studies have exemplarily been recently shown by Hawass et al [2], [3] in the case of the mummy of Pharaoh Tutanchamun and other royal mummies from ancient Egypt. Accordingly, any such study seems to be helpful for our understanding of the past.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstructing the Life of an Unknown (ca. 500 Years-Old South American Inca) Mummy – Multidisciplinary Study of a Peruvian Inca Mummy Suggests Severe Chagas Disease and Ritual Homicide

et al. 2014

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The paleopathological, paleoradiological, histological, molecular and forensic investigation of a female mummy (radiocarbon dated 1451–1642 AD) provides circumstantial evidence for massive skull trauma affecting a young adult female individual shortly before death along with chronic infection by Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease). The mummy (initially assumed to be a German bog body) was localized by stable isotope analysis to South America at/near the Peruvian/Northern Chilean coast line. This is further supported by New World camelid fibers attached to her plaits, typical Inca-type skull deformation and the type of Wormian bone at her occiput. Despite an only small transverse wound of the supraorbital region computed tomography scans show an almost complete destruction of face and frontal skull bones with terrace-like margins, but without evidence for tissue reaction. The type of destruction indicates massive blunt force applied to the center of the face. Stable isotope analysis indicates South American origin: Nitrogen and hydrogen isotope patterns indicate an extraordinarily high marine diet along with C4-plant alimentation which fits best to the coastal area of Pacific South America. A hair strand over the last ten months of her life indicates a shift to a more “terrestric” nutrition pattern suggesting either a move from the coast or a change in her nutrition. Paleoradiology further shows extensive hypertrophy of the heart muscle and a distended large bowel/rectum. Histologically, in the rectum wall massive fibrosis alternates with residual smooth muscle. The latter contains multiple inclusions of small intracellular parasites as confirmed by immunohistochemical and molecular ancient DNA analysis to represent a chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection. This case shows a unique paleopathological setting with massive blunt force trauma to the skull nurturing the hypothesis of a ritual homicide as previously described in South American mummies in an individual that suffered from severe chronic Chagas disease.

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Revisiting the harem conspiracy and death of Ramesses III: anthropological, forensic, radiological, and genetic study

Abstract: This study suggests that Ramesses III was murdered during the harem conspiracy by the cutting of his throat. Unknown man E is a possible candidate as Ramesses III's son Pentawere.

Cited by 30 publications

References 8 publications

Body height of mummified pharaohs supports historical suggestions of sibling marriages

Body height of mummified pharaohs supports historical suggestions of sibling marriages

Identifications of ancient Egyptian royal mummies from the 18th Dynasty reconsidered

Reconstructing the Life of an Unknown (ca. 500 Years-Old South American Inca) Mummy – Multidisciplinary Study of a Peruvian Inca Mummy Suggests Severe Chagas Disease and Ritual Homicide

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