Researchers from the University of Missouri at St. Louis have deciphered the meaning of tattoos on the bodies of mummified Egyptian women. work of scientists published in the Journal of Egyptian Archeology.
In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered the ancient city of Deir el-Medina, located near the Nile bed. Two female mummies with tattoos on their waists were recovered from this year’s graves.
When examining the skin of the first mummy found without bandages, researchers found tattoos on the lower back depicting bowls, a purification ritual, and an image of Bes. This is an Egyptian god whose role was to protect women and children, especially during childbirth.
The second mummy was better preserved and wrapped in funeral bandages. Researchers examined its remains using infrared photographs. Analysis showed that this middle-aged woman also had a wadjet (an ancient Egyptian symbol, the left hawk eye of the god Horus) and Bes tattooed on her skin.
The researchers suggest that both tattoos represent a demand for protection during childbirth by those who wear them.