The mummy of Henuttawy A

The mummy of Duathathor-Henuttawy (CG 61090, coffins CG  61026) had been disturbed, with an opening made through the bandages at the thorax and abdominal regions. Despite this, an Osiris shroud, visible intact in a photograph taken by Émile Brugsch after the mummy was transferred to Cairo, demonstrates that this intrusion predated the rewrapping carried out by 21st Dynasty priests. Thus, the damage was already present when Henuttawy was reburied and ceremonially restored during this period.

Henuttawy’s mummy is particularly significant for being among the first to showcase the fully developed embalming innovations of the 21st Dynasty. Her embalmers had packed a mixture of sawdust, resins, and pieces of linen beneath the skin of the body and face to impart a more lifelike appearance. This marks a notable shift from the technique used for Nodjmet, whose padding was simply applied onto the skin surface, not under it. Unfortunately, over the centuries, the sawdust expanded and ruptured the skin in places.

In 1974, the face of Henuttawy was carefully restored by Dr Nasri Iskander, bringing it closer to her intended ancient appearance. X-rays have revealed the continued presence of several amulets intact within the wrappings.

Photo: Patrick Landmann, ACI/Science Photo Library

A remarkable find was the gold embalming plate covering the incision made during mummification. This plate was notable not only for the customary depiction of the Eye of Horus, but also for its engravings of the Four Sons of Horus and inscribed texts. Tiny holes in its corners indicate that it was once threaded with string, allowing it to be secured around Henuttawy’s abdomen like a belt.

The mummy was found in a pair of coffins (CG 61026); the outer coffin was missing its lid. The gilded elements of both coffins had been systematically adzed away. However, sacred images remained untouched, and the inscriptions on the inner coffin were preserved, evidence the stripping was likely performed by necropolis officials, not common tomb robbers.

As with the burials of Nodjmet and Pinudjem II, official intervention appears to have aimed at salvaging valuable materials while preserving religious decorum.

Source Bibliography: CCR, 63ff; CP, 175; DRN, 201, 207, 212, 255-256; EMs, 47, 48, ill. 46; MiAE, 126, 239, 329, ill. 131; MMM, 37, 65, ill. 22; MR, 576f., 590, 592; RM, 101ff.; XRP, 100, 172-73, ills. 20, 50.

Original Burial: In tomb of Inhapi (WN A?) Reeves points out that the coffins and mummy of Duathathor-Henttawy bear a close resemblance to those of Pinudjem I and Nodjmet, all of which were disturbed (by being processed by necropolis officials.) He believes this indicates that all three mummies were originally buried together in the same tomb, probably WN A.
Reburial: In DB 320 (in corridor “B”) after year 11 of Shoshenq I. (DRN, 251-252.).

Abbreviations

Source: Edited from a now-defunct page of The Theban Royal Mummy Project via Wayback Machine
Source url: https://members.tripod.com/anubis4_2000/mummypages1/21A.htm