The perfected mummy of Seti I and the remains of the original wooden coffins were discovered in a cache at Deir El-Bahri in 1881.

Between 1290 and 1279 BC, the mummy of Seti I, also known as Sety I of the 19th Dynasty of the New Kingdom, peacefully outshone Egyptologists for its superior preservation. His face is considered one of the best preserved in the world and in the annals of Ancient Egypt.

Seti I, who died some 3,298 years ago, is believed to have ruled when Egypt was at one of its peaks of prosperity, between 1290 and 1279 BC. He was a father for perhaps two years.

Between 1290 and 1279 BC, a pharaoh’s mother was buried in an intricately designed tomb.

The tomb of this extremely powerful and handsome ruler was brought to the world’s attention by rebel investigator Giovanni Battista Belzoni on 16 October 1817.

The tomb located in the Valley of the Kings, known as KV17, is the longest tomb in the Egyptian necropolis. It is about 137 metres (449 ft).

Seti I’s mummified body was carefully prepared and covered with a yellow shroud. However, tomb robbers had tampered with his bandages and torn apart his abdomen. Worse still, Seti’s head was separated from the rest of his battered body. Fortunately, his face remained intact. Now, the remains of Seti I are housed among other royal mummies in the Cairo museum.

Between 1290 and 1279 BC, a pharaoh’s mother was buried in an intricately designed tomb.

In the early years of his reign, Seti led his army north to restore Egyptian prestige, which had been severely tarnished by the turbulent years of the late 18th Dynasty under Akhenaten. He fought in northern Palestine and Syria and fought at least one battle against the Hittite king Muwatallis; he subsequently concluded a peace treaty that may have settled the frontier at Kadesh on the Orontes River between the mountains of Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon.

Between 1290 and 1279 BC, a pharaoh’s mother was buried in an intricately designed tomb.

Seti during his 11-15 year rule did much to promote the prosperity of Egypt. He fortified the frontier, opened mines and quarries, dug wells, and rebuilt temples and shrines that had fallen into decay or had been damaged. He also completed the work begun by his father on the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, which is one of the most impressive monuments of Egyptian architecture.

Another important work is his memorial temple at Abydos, which he dedicated to Osiris and six other deities, much of whose original colouring has been preserved. The tomb of Seti is the most beautiful in the Valley of the Kings, in western Thebes.

Although his son Ramesses II is more famous, many scholars believe that Seti was the greatest king of the 19th Dynasty.