What’s a mummy to do when she needs new tunes? If she’s Meresamun, she’ll ‘get by with a little help from her friends’

A song contest has been initiated in honor of Meresamun, a mummy who is the focus of a special exhibition at the Oriental Institute Museum.

Meresamun was a singer in the Temple of Amun, where she performed in honor of the Egyptian gods Amun and Hathor.

The song contest was launched on Meresamun’s Facebook page, which she has been using to “communicate” with nearly 900 friends who have visited her either at the museum or virtually.

“I loved playing my sistrum and menat in the temple. But after 2,800 years, I really need some new tunes. Can you help?” Meresamun writes on her Facebook wall. “Set an old tune to lyrics or create an original song that I might appreciate. I love all types—folk, pop, ‘wrap’, any style.”
There are two ways to enter the competition—video submission via YouTube or lyrics only. All submissions must be entered by 11:59 p.m., May 7.

“I will decide on Friday, May 15, which song is most creative and send the winning composer their prize—a nice book all about me signed to you in hieroglyphs,” she reported in her posting.