For more than three thousand years, Nesyamun’s mummified remains have resided in the beautiful, ornate coffin which is today on display at Leeds City Museum.
Known locally as The Leeds Mummy, the coffin and its occupant have captivated generations of visitors to the city and are one of the museum’s most famous exhibits.
Experts believe that Nesyamun was a high-ranking Egyptian priest, incense-bearer and scribe at the temple of Amun in Thebes’s Karnak complex.
From the leather ornament found in his bandages, it was deduced that he lived during the reign of Ramesses XI, between 1113 and 1085 BC, when he had ascended to the rank of “waab priest”.
Because of his status, he was permitted to approach the statue of Amun, head of the ancient Egyptian Gods, in the scared inner sanctum of Karnak’s sprawling temple.
Recent studies have shown he probably died following a severe allergic reaction.
His decorative outer coffin is painted with scenes from the famous Book of the Dead, which depict Nesyamun making offerings to deities, while the text prays for success and in the afterlife and contact with the gods.
The coffin was first collected by the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society and was bought to Leeds in 1823 having been purchased from Bullock’s Museum in London.
The mummy itself was the subject of the first ever multi-disciplinary mummy investigation in 1828 and the current display includes a 3D reconstruction of what Nesyamun would have looked like.
He is also the only known mummy to date from 19th Dynasty and the only one of the Leeds collection of mummies that survived bombing during the Second World War.
Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for museums and galleries said:
“The Leeds Mummy is a cornerstone of our collection and is as captivating to see for visitors today as it has been for the thousands who have marvelled at it in years gone by.
“To think this incredible coffin and its inhabitant have been preserved for more than three millennia and yet we can still view it in such detail and learn so much from it is quite remarkable.”
Leeds City Museum – Entrance is free. Opening hours:
- Monday closed (except bank holidays)
- Tues – Fri: 10am-5pm
- Sat, Sun and bank holidays: 11am – 5pm.
- www.leeds.gov.uk/citymuseum Millennium Square, Cookridge Street, Leeds, LS2 8BH
- Tel: 0113 2243732. Email: city.museum@leeds.gov.uk
