Mummy: The Inside Story [Paperback]

John H. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

The 3,000-year-old mummy of the ancient Egyptian priest Nesperennub has never been removed from its beautifully painted case. Like a freshly discovered archaeological site, it contains a wealth of data about the remote past, yet until recently, this information remained inaccessible. Now the latest noninvasive imaging technology, combining computer tomography (CT) scanning with leading-edge computer graphics, has revealed what lies inside.

This astonishing book documents the first-ever "virtual mummy," a three-dimensional rendering of the body that can be viewed interactively, repeatedly and from many different angles. In a sequence of dozens of startlingly clear images, readers are taken on a tour inside the "unwrapped" mummy to examine the skull, bones, internal organs, and the entombed objects: a protective amulet and an enigmatic bowl. In the process, we learn the answers to a wide range of questions about Nesperennub: How old was he? What did he look like? What diseases did he suffer from? How was he mummified? Mummy: The Inside Story provides a fascinating glimpse of the potential of modern technology to reshape our understanding of past societies. AUTHOR BIO: John H. Taylor is assistant keeper in the department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum in London and the author of Egyptian Coffins, Unwrapping a Mummy, and Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9–Utilizing striking images from Computerized Tomography (CT) scanning, this book takes readers through the process of investigating the nearly 3000-year-old mummified remains of Nesperennub. The text describes each step in the examination, looking at the coffin and hieroglyphs first, and then moving to the specifics of the body and the objects that accompany it. Along with descriptions of the process, readers learn what scientists make of the find and why they draw these conclusions. The first few sections about the discovery of the mummy and the meaning of the hieroglyphs are fairly dry, but they set the stage for the more exciting examination of the body and the intriguing details that come to light. CT images and X rays vividly depict the findings described. Often readers see multiple views of the same feature, showing how the three-dimensional images can reveal subtle new insights. Some have led scientists to new knowledge about Egyptian life, while others have given rise to theories that have yet to be confirmed. Nesperennub has a snake-shaped amulet above his eye socket, a small round hole through his skull, and a clay bowl stuck to his head. It's fascinating to learn how scientists speculate about the origins of these items, which might have involved religious practices, illness, or even, in the case of the bowl, an embalmer's error. There are many excellent mummy books available, but this one explores the impact and potential of cutting-edge technology especially well.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
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About the Author

John H. Taylor is assistant keeper in the department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum in London and the author of Egyptian Coffins, Unwrapping a Mummy, and Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810991810
• ISBN-13: 978-0810991811
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,624,485 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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