Images of the Afterlife

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A hyper-realistic sculpture by French artist Elisabeth Daynès reconstructs a teenage boy named Minidris who was mummified centuries ago in ancient Egypt.

French artist Elisabeth Daynès at work in her studio, finishing the clay reconstruction of the boy inside mummy 111517. A silicone sculpture was created from a casting of this clay head.

Artist Elisabeth Daynès used clay over an accurate skull reconstruction of Field Museum mummy 111517.

With CT scans and a 3D stereolithograph reconstruction of its skull, French artist Elisabeth Daynès began creating a sculpture to depict what the boy inside mummy 111517 looked like in real life. Detailed measurements of the skull allowed forensic scientists to estimate the thickness of skin and the shape of eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

3D imaging of ancient Egyptian teenage boy who was mummified and placed into a coffin that was too large for him. Field Museum mummy 111517.

Without opening its wooden coffin nor unbinding its wrappings, this CT scan was taken in 2010 of Field Museum mummy 11517, who proved to be a teenage boy.