| Keku Human Mummy | |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | Keku |
| Age | 21-23 years old(at time of death) |
| Sex | female |
| Status | daughter of Namenekhamun, chief butcher |
| Height | unknown |
| Source | |
| Culture | Egyptian |
| Date(s) | about 2700 years ago |
| Site | Egyptian city of Thebes |
| Current Location | |
| Location | National Museum of Antiquities in the Netherlands |
| Catalog # | |
Keku lived in the later period of the Egyptian civilisation. She lived in Thebes (now Luxor) and was the wealthy daughter of Namenekhamun, chief butcher in the temple complex of the god Amun. She died in her early 20s.
Mummification[]
Professional mourners would have accompanied her funeral boat across the Nile to the chapel where the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony would have taken place to allow her spirit to fly out when she reached eternity.
Studies[]
Her sarcophagus was excavated in the 19th century and taken to the National Museum of Antiquities in the Netherlands, which is lending her to Museum Victoria.
X-rays and cat scans indicate she was aged between 21 and 23.
Computerized tomography and X-ray scans show her heart is intact as well as her brain which is unusual for Egyptian mummies. This could mean that although she had an expensive mummification, it was not the best available.
Pathology[]
Disease is the common belief for cause of death.
Additional[]
Parts of the coffin are covered with prayers and spells from the Book of the Dead as well as scenes of various gods and goddesses associated with death and the underworld. Someone of Keku's class would have gathered amulets. She would have gathered shabti, the small figures, made of terracotta or faience, which miraculously were to do all Keku's menial jobs in the afterlife. She would have picked the spells she wanted in her inner coffin to ward off evil spirits in the underworld. Keko would prepare for the meeting of Osiris, the chief judge of the underworld to whom she would plead entry into the afterlife.