A woman's work is never done.

Consider Meresamun, star of a new Chicago museum show. Girlfriend, this female mummy's still working it after nearly 3,000 years.

Exclusive to the Oriental Institute, "Meresamun: A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt" recreates the life of a working woman in 800 BC. The title heroine -- her unopened case is a centerpiece of the show -- held a prestigious job in bustling Thebes. The 70 period artifacts on display include a harp, papyrus documents and ritual necklaces. Personal items range from a hand mirror to jar of salve for stretch marks.

The long-silent diva, assigned to the temple of chief god Amun, "was a big cheese," curator Emily Teeter said.

Not only was she an A-lister, she enjoyed the same legal rights of well-born men."That's one of the big points, one that takes people by surprise," Teeter said.

The show illustrates the woman-about-town's life inside and outside the temple. High-ranking women like Meresamun (merris-AH-mun) owned property, handled their own money, and were savvy negotiators. One telling papyrus spells out a wife's fiscal expectations of her husband. In exchange for a one-time gift of 30 silver coins, her mate agreed to fork over 1.2 silver pieces and 36 sacks of grain yearly for life. "it's a combination pre-nup and annuity," Teeter said.

Meresamun means "Amun loves her," which suggests her mother -- likely a singer herself -- was savvy, too, singling out her little girl as the natural choice to inherit her post. Her exact parentage is unknown.

University of Chicago archaeologists bought the mummy in 1920 and established Meresamun's identity from hieroglyphics on her casket. But ancient working women were of little interest, so she was parked in the Egyptian gallery. Her hand-painted case languished for decades. The current administration decide to spotlight the one-time toast of Thebes "to put her in historic context," Egyptologist Teeter said.

According to researchers, Meresamun's duties were light, the perks, good. She sang to amuse the deity while the high priest bathed the statue, changed its clothes and offered it food and drink three times a day. A member of a chorus, she may have doubled as accompanist on a harp, rattle or drum. She served one month on, three months off.

Unlike modern nuns, ancient priestesses could and did marry and have children. Meresamun likely ran a multi-story mud-brick home and supervised a staff of bakers, cooks and maids in her off-time.

A computer kiosk relates how technicians at University of Chicago Hospitals gave Meresamun a CAT scan last year, and discovered she was tall (5-foot 6) for her time, had wide-spaced eyes, a long neck and good posture. Curators decided against "unwrapping" her for fear of damaging her remains. Her mummy case, of fragile papier-mache, was molded to her body.

The show runs through Nov. 1 at the Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th St., on the UC campus. The museum is planning a tie-in program for 5-year-olds up for the fall.