Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie is one of the leading Egyptologists and archaeologists of our time. Famous for his discoveries in Egypt as well as his pioneering system of preserving artifacts, Sir Flinders Petrie has helped us understand ancient Egypt in ways we couldn’t even imagine. . Thanks to his work in the early 20th century, many important monuments of this ancient civilization came to light. And among all his discoveries, there is one that truly stands out for its uniqueness. It is an extraordinary gilded mummy, belonging to Lady Isaious, whose lavish and wealthy appearance tells us much about a transitional period in the late stages of ancient Egyptian history.
The golden mummy will shine in the afterlife
In 1911, Sir Flinders Petrie was conducting the third archaeological excavation at Hawara in Egypt. This important site lies south of the famous ancient city of Crocodilopolis and is where Pharaoh Amenemhat III built one of his lavish pyramids. Besides, many other interesting tombs and discoveries were also discovered at this location.
Pyramid of 12th Dynasty Pharaoh Amenemhat III at Hawara, from the east. (Public domain)
Among these finds are many mummies belonging to the Greco-Roman period of ancient Egyptian culture, when the classical art and customs of this civilization were greatly influenced by ancient art. Dictionary of the Mediterranean.
The number of mummies discovered in Hawara is staggering. Flinders Petrie reported that they were “being raised by the dozens every day”. By all accounts, many of them belonged to ordinary citizens of the time, without any names or extravagant details. Some possessed uniquely painted portraits, later known as “Faiyum Mummy Portraits”. But a few clearly belonged to prominent individuals, aristocrats and the wealthy, whose mummies must have been specially decorated.
And the one that really stands out is completely gilded, elaborately decorated and very attractive. It quickly attracted the attention of Flinders Petrie and his colleagues. Immediately, they tried to find out the identity of the person who was laid to rest. The mummy was labeled in Greek: at first, Petrie translated the words as “Demetria, wife of Icaious”, but it was later revealed that the more likely translation was “Isaious, daughter of Demetrios “. So who is this noble and wealthy woman?
The rich burial of an Egyptian woman
The style of this golden mummy is unique. It carefully combines the traditional practices of ancient Egypt with distinct Greco-Roman influences. The face displays the ideal features common to the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 to 30 BC), while the decorations are distinctly Egyptian. Flinders Petrie dated the mummy to the 1st century AD, at the end of the Ptolemaic period. That very fact tells us that the ancient traditions of Egypt were very strong.
Close-up of the upper part of the golden mummy. (Gluck/ CC BY-SA 4.0 )
The upper part of the mummy – torso and head – is completely gilded, there is a very detailed mask. A special wreath of flowers lies in the woman’s hands, and on her head there is a classic Egyptian hairstyle. Spiral curls showcased a traditional hairstyle, while a sumptuous bejeweled necklace hinted at her wealth. The snake bracelets she wears are a classic Egyptian element – the pharaoh’s guardian, the cobra, protects the deceased in the afterlife. Shiny jewels, shimmering gold and emphasized features – the mummy displays many unique features that belong only to the realm of Roman culture. Thus, it is far different from ancient Egyptian mummies, which are often more gloomy and dark. Flinders Petrie himself was not impressed with that flamboyant extravagance. So much so that he described the mummy of Lady Isaious as “standing up so splendidly.”
Luxurious journey into the afterlife
The lower part of this rich mummy was covered with a special red shroud. It is covered in pigments and images from the afterlife of the ancient Egyptians. Anubis and Thoth in their traditional roles, the sky goddess Nut and all other living creatures beyond this world: they are shown to guide the deceased towards a new existence beyond this world This. On either side of the shroud are hieroglyphic inscriptions referring to the soul’s journey to the afterlife, and they are all very well preserved, even after many centuries.
Lady Isaious’s feet were bound in an elaborate cardboard foot box, as is the custom with all Egyptian mummies. The underside of the footlocker contains a detailed and wonderfully preserved painting of two naked and bound enemies. Their position is symbolic – the woman will forever trample on them and demonstrate her power. Lines like “your enemy under your sandals”, tell us clearly what the meaning is here.
Alas, we don’t know exactly who Lady Isaious is. Her identity remains a mystery, and she may have simply been a member of the local aristocracy, from a family with enough wealth to bury her as such. From her mummy, however, we can see that her journey into the afterlife was above all lavish and in first-class style.
A glimpse of Greco-Roman Egypt
After being discovered in 1911, the mummy was eventually transferred to the Manchester Museum, England. There it was thoroughly and meticulously repaired – after all, having passed through the centuries, it was a little damaged. However, it was preserved well enough to allow for thorough research.
Overall, the golden mummy of Lady Isaious – along with all the unique Faiyum and Hawara mummies – is an ideal window into the late period of ancient Egyptian history and the mixture of cultures that developed at that time. A big step up from the classic mummies of ancient Egypt, this shiny and “luxurious” mummy truly takes the journey to the afterlife to a whole new level.
Top image: Golden mummy of Lady Isaious, at Manchester Museum. Source: Allan Gluck/ CC BY-SA 4.0
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