Egypt autopsy offers new clues 3,600 years after pharaoh’s murder

Hi-tech scans of Seqenenre Tao II’s mummy show wounds skilfully hidden by embalmers, suggesting he was killed in an ‘execution ceremony’

Researchers have spent decades trying to decipher the death of Seqenenre, whose corpse was found in the late 19th century and had visible wounds on its face

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The mummy of pharaoh Seqenenre Tao II, who led the Egyptian troops against the Hyksos invaders. Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities via AFP

Published: 1:03am, 18 Feb 2021Updated: 2:58am, 18 Feb 2021

A hi-tech study has offered new clues into the killing of a pharaoh who ruled Egypt over three millennia ago, the antiquities ministry said Wednesday.

Seqenenre Tao II, “the Brave”, reigned over southern Egypt some 1,600 years before Christ.

He famously led Egyptian troops against the Hyksos, a dynasty of West Asian origin which had taken over the Nile Delta.

A computed tomography scan was performed on the mummy of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Seqenenre Tao II. Image: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities via AFP

Seqenenre’s body had been examined by X-ray in the 1960s, revealing head wounds adeptly concealed by embalmers and giving rise to theories that he was killed in battle or a palace assassination.

But after conducting CAT scans and producing 3D images, archaeologist Zahi Hawass and Cairo University radiology professor Sahar Salim concluded that he was killed in an “execution ceremony” after being taken prisoner on the battlefield.