Was Ptolemy 1 Mummified?

by Sampson623

Ptolemy 1 became the Pharaoh of Egypt during the 32nd dynasty. I'm wondering if after his death was he mummified, also where is his tomb. Doing some research I've found a bust of Ptolemy wearing the Pharaoh's headdress and the false goatee. However, I have not been able to find a picture of Ptolemy's mummy or sarcophagus.

Any help, or links to further reading would be greatly appreciated!

cleopatra_philopater

Ptolemy I was mummified and his remains were placed in the Soma which was in the royal quarter of Alexandria, in fact most of the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt were placed in the Soma or its expanded funerary complex. However the exact location of this mausoleum is unknown and the royal quarter of Alexandria along with much of the ancient city is actually underwater thanks to rising sea levels and the evershifting shape of coastlines. Then we have to also consider that many of the buildings and high profile tombs in Alexandria were looted, damaged or otherwise upset between Antiquity and today, with the mummy of Alexander himself being said to have been stolen, so there might not actually be anything left even if we did know where it was.

It also sounds like you might be looking for depictions of Ptolemy I, and if that is the case you might not want to focus exclusively on more traditional Pharaonic sculpture because while they are fascinating they tend to be highly stylised. There are a few surviving busts like this one from the Louvre, this depiction of him as Dionysios and this fragmented bust not to mention that coin portraits are always interesting.