Thursday, January 7, 2010

Museum unveils study of rare mummy

Get to know the Reading Museum's only mummy, Nefrina, in a new exhibit that opens Jan. 16.

In 2003, the museum had its mummy CAT scanned at the Reading Hospital under the direction of Egyptologist Dr. Jonathan Elias. Nefrina turned out to be unusual in that she had fake ears! She also had a broken hip, which may have led to her death.

Based on the scan, a sculpture revealing what Nefrini must have looked like in life has been created and will be on display as part of the exhibit, Nefrina's World.

Nefrina came to the Reading Public Museum in 1930, a loan from the University of Pennsylvania. She was purchased by the Reading museum in 1949.

Nefrina's World will run from Jan. 16 through 2011. Entry to the museum costs $8 for adults ages 18-59, $6 for seniors and students with IDs. Members and children under age 4 enter free.

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