 Egyptian mummies were wrapped in linen as a symbol of light and purity, and as a display of wealth.Some of these fabrics, woven from hand-spun yarns, were very fine for their day, but are coarse compared to modern linen.When the tomb of the Pharaoh Ramses II, who died in 1213 BC, was discovered in 1881, the linen wrappings were in a state of perfect preservation after more than 3000 years.