After being shrouded in secrecy for over a century on the orders of Abdul Hamid II, the 34th Emperor of the Ottoman Empire, the “two-headed ancient Egyptian mummy” finally emerged into public knowledge on July 6, 2018.

This extraordinary archaeological find encapsulates the mummified remains of an ancient Egyptian princess alongside those of a Nile crocodile, both remarkably well-preserved, with heads and bodies intact.

Legend intertwines with history in the narrative of this unique mummy. According to the tale, the demise of a young princess, daughter to an Egyptian pharaoh, occurred at the jaws of a colossal crocodile.

Overwhelmed by grief, the pharaoh decided to inter his daughter in a manner seldom seen – alongside the very crocodile that had taken her life.

The belief persisted that this unusual ritual would bestow upon the departed princess the strength and resilience of a crocodile in the afterlife.

The journey of this enigmatic mummy began in Egypt, making its way to Turkey during the reign of the 32nd Ottoman Emperor, Sultan Abdulaziz, in the mid-1800s. It found its current residence in the Yıldız Palace in Istanbul, a place intimately connected to the life of Emperor Sultan Abdulaziz.

During the era of the 34th Emperor, Abdul Hamid II (1876 to 1909), the mummy was veiled in secrecy within the confines of Topkapi Palace, following the emperor’s explicit orders.

After the passage of more than a century, the mystique surrounding this captivating mummy was lifted, and its images were officially unveiled to the public on July 6, 2018.

Historians delve into the peculiarities of this discovery, noting that while it was customary for ancient Egyptians to entomb royal family members with riches such as gold and silver, the act of burying a princess with a Nile crocodile stands out as a rare and distinctive ritual.

Speculations arise that perhaps the king’s paternal desires played a pivotal role in determining this extraordinary burial method for his daughter.