Scientists at Cairo University have uncovered the exact cause of the death of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Sekenenra Taa II, who ruled around 1569-1554 BC. The results of the study of the ruler’s mummy are published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.
Sekenenra Taa II ruled southern Egypt during the occupation of the country by the Hyksos. It is believed that his reign was short-lived, and he was killed while trying to oust the Hyksos. However, the exact cause of the pharaoh’s death remained a mystery.
Researchers have studied the pharaoh’s mummy, discovered at the end of the 19th century, using computed tomography. It turned out that the ruler received several serious head injuries, which were well disguised. The poor condition of the mummy was previously thought to indicate that the embalming was carried out in a hurry.
According to scientists, Sekenenra was on the battlefield, and then was captured and brutally executed. The wounds correspond to the five weapons of the Hyksos, indicating a ceremonial execution. At the time of his death, he was 40 years old. The embalmers employed sophisticated techniques to hide the damage to the skull, using material that functioned similar to fillers in modern plastic surgery.