He survived World War II bombs which destroyed his compatriots and adopted home and has remained intact for more than 3,000 years… but in real life Leeds mummy Nesyamun was probably killed by a tiny insect.
Two other mummies and the building itself were wiped out in the 1941 bombing of Leeds’ museum- leaving the city without a permanent museum ever since- but Nesyamun escaped unscathed.
Yet as curators prepare for his face to be seen in public, they have come to the conclusion that he was perhaps more vulnerable than he appears and that a simple sting from a small bee or other insect could have caused his death.
Also going on public display is a striking reconstruction of Nesyamun’s head, which depicts him in a startling and very lifelike manner as he would have looked as a priest in Thebes 3,000 years ago.
This was produced using a 360ยบ scan of his actual head, which was then reconstructed by renowned medical artist Richard Neave of Manchester University several years back, but has not been on show while the city waits to get its permanent new museum.
The story behind Nesyamun’s premature demise has been revealed as a major operation to relocate him to his final resting place- with the help of specialist mountain rescue equipment- gets under way today.
The ancient insect’s venom is thought to have caused an anaphylactic reaction when it stung Nesyamun, killing him rapidly.
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