Lady Rai, who lived over 3,500 years ago during Egypt’s 17th Dynasty, is best remembered as the nursemaid to Queen Ahmose-Nefertari. Her remarkably well-preserved mummy, discovered in the early 20th century, offers an extraordinary glimpse into the medical knowledge and funerary practices of ancient Egypt.

Examination of her remains revealed the use of advanced mummification techniques, including delicately woven linen wrappings and specialized embalming compounds. The exceptional care taken in preserving her body reflects the high regard in which she was held and demonstrates the sophistication of Egyptian embalming methods, aimed at securing the deceased’s journey to the afterlife.

Intriguingly, modern analyses of Lady Rai’s body have also identified evidence of atherosclerosis, an arterial condition often considered a modern illness. This finding has challenged long-held assumptions about ancient health and suggests that heart disease has affected humans for millennia.

Today, Lady Rai’s mummy continues to fascinate scholars, not only for its state of preservation but also for the broader insights it provides into the lives, health, and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egyptians.