In June 1886, archaeologists working in the Deir El Bahri valley of Egypt unearthed a discovery that defied all conventions of ancient burial. Hidden among the grand tombs of revered pharaohs like Seti I and Thutmose III lay a plain, undecorated cedar coffin. The box had been crudely hacked open to accommodate the corpse inside, but the true shock awaited researchers when they lifted the lid.
Unlike the peaceful, composed faces of other mummies, this man’s head was thrown back, and his mouth was locked in a wide, horrifying gape. He appeared to be screaming in agony even three thousand years after his death. For over a century, the identity of “Unknown Man E” baffled historians, but modern science has finally reconstructed the dark series of events that left him frozen in terror.
An Unclean Burial
The physical evidence immediately suggested that this man had committed a grave transgression. Ancient Egyptian embalmers typically removed the internal organs and carefully wrapped the body in linen to prepare it for the journey to the afterlife. However, this corpse retained its brain and viscera. The embalmers had simply poured resin down his throat and hastily wrapped him.
Most damning of all was the material used for his shroud. The mummy was bound in sheepskin, a substance considered ritually unclean by the ancient Egyptians. To be buried in such a manner implied that the deceased had done something unforgivable in life. His hands and feet also bore marks indicating they had been bound at the time of death. Someone had taken steps to ensure his journey to the afterlife would be difficult, yet they had still granted him a burial among royals.
The Harem Conspiracy
The clues pointed to a high-level scandal known as the “Harem Conspiracy.” Historical documents reveal that Ramses III, a powerful pharaoh who defended Egypt against the Sea Peoples, faced a betrayal from within his own palace. Tiye, a secondary wife of the king, orchestrated a complex plot to assassinate Ramses III and install her son, Pentawere, on the throne instead of the chosen heir, Ramses IV.
Tiye recruited a network of co-conspirators, including high-ranking magistrates, palace guards, chefs, and even practitioners of dark magic. The plot moved forward with brutal efficiency. The conspirators stormed the harem and slit the throat of Ramses III, ending his reign in a pool of blood.
The Traitor’s Fate
While the assassination of the king succeeded, the coup failed. The conspirators could not secure the throne for Pentawere, and the rightful heir, Ramses IV, rose to power. The new pharaoh swiftly arrested those involved and brought them to justice. Judicial papyri from the era record the trials and executions of the plotters, many of whom were burned alive—a punishment that destroyed the body and denied them an afterlife.
As a member of the royal bloodline, Pentawere received a different sentence. The court allowed him the option of suicide. Evidence suggests he died by hanging or poison. The authorities then erased his name from historical records, a practice known as damnatio memoriae, effectively wiping his existence from history.
Science Solves the Mystery
For decades, the link between the screaming mummy and Prince Pentawere remained a theory. However, recent DNA analysis conducted on both the screaming mummy and the body of Ramses III confirmed they shared the same paternal DNA. The biological data, combined with the forensic evidence of the “unclean” burial and the historical accounts of the trial, confirmed that the screaming man was indeed the traitorous son. His terrifying expression remains a permanent record of his final moments and the abrupt end of his bid for power.
Archaeologists opening a coffin in 1886 stared back at a nightmare.
Unlike peaceful pharaohs, this mummy’s mouth was locked in an eternal scream.
Buried in ritually unclean sheepskin with bound hands, "Unknown Man E" hid a dark secret that took over a century to solve…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/ojuv0gDwtK
— Fascinating True Stories (@FascinatingTrue) December 11, 2025