Kolkata: The Egyptian mummy, the most prized possession of the Indian Museum, was relocated to a larger space after 35 years. This 4,000-year-old artefact, a top attraction at the Indian Museum is the oldest in the Asia-Pacific region and carries a remarkable story of its journey from Egypt to Kolkata. The mummy, believed to have been looted by British officers from the pyramids near ‘Gourna' or ‘Kurna,' a group of villages close to Luxor, remains shrouded in intrigue.
"The Egyptian gallery is set for a renovation. Ahead of this, we needed to shift the mummy to a bigger space to accommodate more visitors. The existing gallery had a false ceiling, which we intend to replace. The modernisation of the air-conditioning system will also ensure better control of humidity and temperature," said Indian Museum director A D Choudhury.
Moving such a delicate artefact required extraordinary precautions. Learning from the mishap in 2014, when workers damaged the 300 BC Ashokan Rampurva Lion Capital during relocation, the museum engaged conservation experts to supervise the process. "We adopted all possible measures and adhered to strict protocols to ensure the safety of the Egyptian mummy," Choudhury added.
The mummy was gifted to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which founded the Indian Museum, by British officer Lt. E C Archbold of the Bengal Light Cavalry in 1834.
According to records, Archbold found the mummy in the tombs at ‘Gourvah' (likely a mistranslation of ‘Gourna') and attempted to transport it from Mocha to Bombay. However, seamen aboard the British Navy warship Coote refused to allow the body on board due to religious concerns. Despite these obstacles, the mummy arrived in India, though the exact details of the journey isn't clear, said Sayan Bhattacharya, deputy director, the Indian Museum.
Initially housed in the Archaeological Long Gallery, the mummy was moved to the Egyptian gallery in 1987. It's identity evolved through scientific scrutiny. In 1834, George Evans of the Asiatic Society examined the teeth and concluded that it belonged to a woman, around 20–22 years old, with Ethiopian features. However, in 1980, during Sunil Ray's tenure, x-rays conducted by Subhash Basu identified the mummy as a male, aged between 50–60, who was likely beaten to death. The body also showed signs of spondylitis and a paralysed knee caused by a degenerative condition known as Alkaptonuria.