Ancient Egyptian mummies are the bodies of humans or animals that were preserved at death by a process of embalmment and wrapping, which was closely linked with their religious beliefs about the afterlife. This deliberate preservation was considered necessary for the soul to recognise and return to the body. The process involved removing internal organs, drying the body with salts like natron, and then wrapping it in linen strips.

What Are Ancient Egyptian Mummies?

The mummies of Ancient Egypt were prepared through a process called mummification, a method used to preserve the body so that a person's spirit could be identified in the afterlife. The major steps were to dry the body using natron salt, remove the organs and store them in canopic jars-with the heart being left inside-and finally to wrap the body in linen with amulets and resins. The first mummies were no doubt the result of natural preservation from the hot desert sand, but intentional mummification started around 2600 BCE.

Definition and Cultural Meaning

The mummy was the preserved remains of a person or animal that resulted from a highly elaborate process called mummification. Culturally, the process of mummification was a religious and ritualistic practice meant for preserving the body so the soul would have a home in the afterlife and to ensure one's eternal life. This process was deeply steeped in their beliefs about death, rebirth, and preservation of the body as a physical means of successfully journeying to the next world.  

Cultural Meaning

Afterlife and resurrection:

 The ancient Egyptians believed that the physical body was necessary for the soul during its journey and into the afterlife. Mummification was a necessary procedure to ensure that the body remained intact, as they believed the soul required a physical vessel to return to.

The god Osiris:

 This practice was heavily influenced by the myth of Osiris, who had been murdered and dismembered, but his wife Isis reassembled his body and mummified it, which allowed him to be reborn as the god of the dead. That myth became a cornerstone in the belief of resurrection and eternal life through the preservation of the body.

Order and balance: 

The elaborate process of mummification was one way to maintain order against the chaos of death, mirroring the natural cycle of the sun, which set each night and rose again each morning.

Identity and soul: 

All aspects—the physical body, the name, and the identity of the now-dead were all integral parts necessary to attain eternal life. Preserving the body ensured the continuity of the individual being.

Rituals:

 The process of mummification itself was long and ritualistic; it was mainly performed by priests and often with protective spells and ceremonies such as the "Opening of the Mouth" ritual, which was meant to return the senses to the deceased.

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Why the Ancient Egyptians Mummified Their Dead

Ancient Egyptians mummified the dead because they believed in the use of the physical body for the journey of the soul into the afterlife. Mummification was thus a religious practice to be performed to preserve the body for the spiritual parts of the deceased, such as the ka and ba, which had to recognize and reunite with their body after death for eternal life.

Key beliefs behind mummification:

The soul needed a body: Egyptians believed the soul had to return to a recognizable physical form to survive and thrive in the afterlife. If the body was not preserved, then the soul was lost forever.

A vessel for the afterlife: the mummified body acted as an anchor or a home to the soul (ka and ba) in its journey to the afterlife, thus securing the further existence of the deceased.

Significance of the heart: Since the heart was regarded as the seat of the soul, in addition to being the organ of reasoning, it was either left in the body or replaced with an amulet for use in the afterlife judgment.

Immortality and eternity: Mummification was one means of attaining immortality. It shows how seriously the Egyptians regarded the afterlife and their ambition to live eternally.

The Mummification Process

The main steps of ancient Egyptian mummification involve purification through the extraction of organs and drying the body, followed by stuffing it to achieve a lifelike body shape, oiling and treating the skin, and finally wrapping it in linen bandages.

The procedure consists of the removal of all the internal organs, except the heart, drying the body in natron salt for about 40-70 days, and wrapping the body in hundreds of yards of linen strips.

Steps of Mummification – From Embalming to Wrapping

1. Embalming and purification

• Extraction of the brain: A hook is passed through the nostrils in order to pull out the brain, since it was not considered important.
• Internal organ removal: An incision is made on the left side of the body to remove the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines. The heart is generally left inside since it is considered the center of intelligence and emotion.
• Cleansing of the body: Wine and spices are used to rinse the body, and the organs are allowed to dry before placing them in canopic jars.

2. Drying the body

• The body is covered in a natural salt called natron, which absorbs all moisture over about 40 to 70 days.
• After 40–70 days, the body is washed again, and the dry, shriveled corpse is ready for the next stage.

3. Restoring shape and form

• The spice-scented solution is used to wash the body cavity, which is then filled with material such as linen, sawdust, or resin-soaked linen to assume a more human outline.
• Linen or other materials are also packed into the neck, arms, and legs in order to fill them out.
• Artificial eyes can be inserted, and the face can be painted to make it appear more lifelike.

4. Anointing and perfuming

• The body is massaged with fragrant aromatic oils and perfumed spices to anoint the skin and prevent decay.
• A coating of tree resin is applied to the body.

5. Wrapping the body

• Wrapping the body painstakingly in multiple layers of linen strips may take as long as 40 days.
• Often, magical amulets are placed within the linen for protection.
• A final shroud is used, often with a portrait mask placed on the face.
• The mummy, now wrapped, is then placed in a coffin or sarcophagus.

Tools and Materials Used by Ancient Embalmers

The ancient embalmers used a set of instruments such as brain hooks, knives, and syringes, along with natron, various resins, oils, and linen for desiccation, preservation, and wrapping.

Tools

• Brain hooks: Long, thin hooks inserted through the nostril or a hole in the skull to remove the brain tissue.
• Embalming knives and blades: Sharp instruments, perhaps made from obsidian, for making incisions to remove organs.
• Syringes: Hollow reeds used to inject liquids like cedar oil into body cavities.
• Funnel: Used to pour liquids into the body cavity.
• Scoops and brushes: These were used to apply and spread natron and other materials.
• Brazier and pan: A brazier containing charcoal incense served to deodorize the embalming area and ward off insects.

Materials

• Natron: A natural salt mixture, which was used as an effective dehydrating agent; it dried out the body in about 40 days.
• Palm wine: Used for cleaning the abdominal cavity.
• Resins: These included pine resin and others, which were used for their adhesive and antimicrobial properties to seal the body.
• Cedar oil: Used for degreasing and preservation purposes.
• Myrrh and frankincense: The fragrance and antifungal properties make these products valuable.
• Linen: Used to wrap the body in layers, with amulets and other materials placed between the layers.
• Canopic jars: Special jars in which the internal organs of the body, preserved separately, were placed.
• Sawdust, lichen, and Nile mud were used to stuff the body cavity after the organs had been removed.
• Beeswax: Used to seal openings and for other decorative purposes. 
• Spices and herbs: These included cassia and cinnamon, used for scented purposes and to aid in preservation.

Beliefs Behind Mummification

Mummification in ancient Egypt is based on the beliefs of the afterlife, wherein the soul needed a preserved body to inhabit and be recognised.

The Role of the Ka, Ba, and Afterlife

In Ancient Egyptian belief, Ka and Ba were the two essential elements of a person's complex soul, which worked together to permit survival and blessed life in the afterlife.

The Ka: The Life Force

The Ka was a person's vital essence or life force, the spiritual "double" of an individual that was created at birth. It lived in the body during life and departed at death. In the afterlife, the Ka had to be sustained, absorbing the spiritual essence of the offerings placed in the tomb. The Ka was naturally bound to the physical body but needed an identifiable form to return to; thus, the primary reason for mummification. The hieroglyph showing two upraised arms often represents the Ka.

The Ba: Personality and Mobility

The Ba symbolised a person's individual personality and character. While the Ka was immobile, there was no such restriction on the Ba, which could leave the tomb and travel to and fro between the land of the living and the dead, Duat. By this means, the dead could communicate with the living and return to their mundane life. Still, every night the Ba had to return to the Khet, the mummified body, to be reunited with the Ka, since the preserved body acted as an important anchor for the soul. Normally, the Ba was shown as a bird with a human head because it could fly.

The Afterlife: The Eternal Goal

The afterlife, or "Field of Reeds," was an eternal continuation of life. The passage into the afterlife entailed the Ba's journey through Duat and the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. A positive judgment granted the Ka and Ba the right to unite in the preserved body and form the Akh, a transfigured spirit continuing into eternal existence in Aaru. Funerary practices aimed at assisting the Ka and Ba in achieving the state known as Akh.

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Gods Linked to Mummification (Anubis, Osiris, etc.)

Mummification in ancient Egypt is based on the beliefs of the afterlife, wherein the soul needed a preserved body to inhabit and be recognised.

According to ancient Egyptian mythology, the main gods involved in the process of mummification are Anubis and Osiris, although Isis, Nephthys, and the Four Sons of Horus also have specific roles.

Anubis

Anubis is the most prominent deity linked to mummification and funerary practices.

Role in Mummification: Anubis was considered the inventor and primary god of embalming. According to myth, he performed the first mummification on the body of Osiris after Osiris was killed by his brother Set. During the performance of the mummification rituals, priests wore masks of Anubis as a sign of respect and to take on his persona.

Other Roles: The guardian of the dead, the protector of tombs and cemeteries, and the guide of souls through the afterlife, he was also the presiding deity in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony in the Hall of Two Truths where a person's heart was weighed against the Feather of Ma'at (truth and justice) for worthiness to enter the afterlife.

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Osiris

Anubis may have overseen the technical process, but Osiris was considered the ultimate Lord of the Underworld and judge of the dead.

Role in Mummification: His own mummification by Anubis established the precedent for the practice among all Egyptians.

Other Roles: Osiris personified the dead pharaoh and the cycle of death and rebirth, becoming the king of the afterlife after his resurrection.

Other Associated Deities

Isis and Nephthys: The goddesses Isis, Osiris's wife, and Nephthys, his sister and mother to Anubis, aided Anubis in collecting and preparing Osiris's body parts for mummification, thereby helping perform the first acts of funerary rites.

The Four Sons of Horus: These four deities were specifically associated with the canopic jars that held the internal organs removed during mummification.

• Imsety was human-headed and guarded the liver.
• Hapy, the baboon-headed, guarded the lungs.
• Duamutef guarded the stomach, who was jackal-headed.
• Qebehsenuef was the falcon-headed protector of the intestines.

Kebechet: Daughter of Anubis, sometimes depicted as a serpent, was a purification goddess who refreshed the souls of the dead with cool water and contributed to the work of the mummification process by purifying the body.

Thoth: The god of wisdom and writing; hence, he was present to record the outcome of such a judgment in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony.

Types of Mummies in Ancient Egypt

The ancient Egyptian mummies are broadly classified based on the type of being they are, whether human or animal. Human mummies include royalty, nobility, and commoners, while animal mummies could be pets, cult animals, sacred offerings, or even food. Human mummies can also be differentiated by the sophistication of the mummification process used.

Royal Mummies and Noble Class

In Ancient Egypt, mummies were mainly differentiated based on the individual's status in society, which commanded the elaboration and cost of the mummification process and burial. The main types were royal mummies, mummies of the noble/elite class, and those of common people, with great variations in quality and accompanying funerary items.

Royal Mummies

Pharaohs and immediate royalty received the most meticulous and expensive mummification possible to ensure a successful transition to the afterlife.

• Process: The complete process of mummification took about 70 days, which included the removal of most of the internal organs, except for the heart, which was left in the body, and the brain. The body was then dried with natron salt for over a month, cleaned using oils and spices, and wrapped in hundreds of yards of fine linen bandages.
• Embalming Details: Special attention was given to the body's appearance, including subcutaneous stuffing to make the mummy appear more life-like, wigs, and sometimes even the use of false eyes. The arms were often crossed high across the chest, a posture primarily reserved for royalty.

They were buried in well-provisioned tombs, such as those in the Valley of the Kings, and placed within nested coffins, including a final stone sarcophagus. These burials included a vast array of grave goods, including jewellery, furniture, and numerous ushabtis.

Noble Class Mummies

Deliberate mummification was likewise practised among the members of the nobility, high officials, and the wealthy, though the quality varied according to what they or their families could afford.

• Process: The mummification process was like that of royalty in principle, but typically less opulent or extensive. The body still underwent the treatment to prevent decay, with organ removal and desiccation with natron, but the materials might be less fine or the process slightly less meticulous.
• Burial: The noble mummies were buried in elaborate tombs, which included rock-cut ones with many grave goods reflecting status, including pottery, cosmetics, and personal possessions.

Animal Mummies – Cats, Crocodiles, and Sacred Creatures

Mummies of animals, especially cats, crocodiles, and other holy creatures, had numerous purposes in Ancient Egypt, ranging from being offered to gods to being food in the afterlife to being pets for the dead.

Types and purposes of animal mummies

Many animals were considered sacred to specific gods and were mummified as religious tributes.

• Pets: Animals such as cats and dogs were mummified to accompany their owners into the afterlife. Cats were associated with the goddess Bastet and hence highly esteemed and, at times, mummified by the millions.
• The crocodiles, sacred to the god Sobek, were also mummified in large quantities.
• Ibises and Baboons: Mummified and offered to the god Thoth.
• Food offerings: Some animal mummies, such as birds, fish, and meat, were prepared for food offerings for the deceased in the afterlife.
• Votive offerings: Some mummies, especially those which were empty or contained only partial remains, served as votive offerings to gods, much like candles in a church.

Famous Ancient Egyptian Mummies

Tutankhamun – The Boy King

Tutankhamun, better known as "King Tut," was a renowned ancient Egyptian pharaoh because, in 1922, his almost completely preserved tomb was discovered by Howard Carter. He became pharaoh as a young boy, ruled from 1332 to 1323 BCE, and died around age 19. His tomb, located in the Valley of the Kings, contained much treasure, such as the iconic golden mask that covered his face, which has made him perhaps the most well-known figure in ancient Egyptian history.

Read more: Achievements of King Tut

Death and discovery

He died suddenly at a rather young age, about 19 years of age. The exact cause of his death is a matter of debate, but modern analysis suggests a combination of factors, possibly including malaria, a fractured leg, and a bone disease. 

Discovery of his tomb: 

His tomb, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, was an archaeological find of monumental proportions since it was so remarkably well-preserved.

Read about : Facts About King Tut

Historical significance

• Legacy through his tomb: The immense fame of Tutankhamun is due primarily to his tomb, which provided a unique glimpse into the wealth, culture, and burial practices of the New Kingdom period.
• Iconic treasures: Among the treasures within is his golden burial mask, now an internationally recognized icon of ancient Egypt.
• Modern study: His mummy has been subjected to extensive scientific study, including modern CT scans and DNA analysis, to53 understand his life and health.

Ramesses II – The Great Pharaoh

The mummy of Ramesses II is famous because he was a powerful, long-reigning pharaoh, and his well-preserved body gives incredible insight into ancient Egyptian rulers. His mummy, often referred to as "Ramesses the Great," was discovered in 1881 in a royal cache at Deir el-Bahari to protect it from tomb robbers. Today, it is housed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo, and studies of it reveal details about his life: his advanced age upon death and his physical features, including his prominent nose and white hair.

Read about: Ramesses II

The following video describes the physical appearance of Ramesses II, as taken from his mummy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGemflFMoZM&t=818

Discovery and journey

• Discovery: The mummy was discovered in 1881 in a secret cache of royal mummies at Deir el-Bahari, near Luxor, used by priests to conceal the bodies of the pharaohs from looters.
• International travel: In 1976, the mummy was sent to France for conservation. It was treated with great respect and even received a special diplomatic passport from the French authorities; it was also displayed at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris before being returned to Egypt.

Condition and preservation

• Exceptional preservation: The mummy is incredibly well-preserved, reflecting high-quality embalming. xVisible features include his face, which is still quite distinguishable with high cheekbones and a well-profiled nose, and tufts of white hair, which were auburn when he was younger.
• Scientific study: Studies of the mummy have provided much knowledge regarding the ancient ruler's health, including arthritis, poor circulation, and dental decay, probably due to his advanced age-he was over 90 years old when he died.

Significance of Ramesses II

• Long reign: Ramesses II ruled Egypt from 1279 to 1213 BCE—one of the longest reigns in history.
• Mighty ruler: He is known for extensive building projects, military campaigns like the Battle of Kadesh, and for signing the world's first known peace treaty with the Hittites.
• Divine status: He was a deeply religious pharaoh and considered himself to be a god on Earth, often depicting himself alongside gods such as Amun-Ra and Osiris.

The Golden Mummies of Bahariya Oasis

The Golden Mummies of Bahariya Oasis were a necropolis discovered in 1996, comprising more than 10,000 mummies from the Greco-Roman era, remarkably covered in gilded masks and cartonnage. The finding, led by the great archaeologist Zahi Hawass, exposed a burial practice that represented both the old Egyptian beliefs and Hellenistic ones in which some mummies were decorated with painted portraits.

Discovery and location

Mummies and burial practices

Significance

The finding considerably enriched the understanding of the Greco-Roman period in Egypt, a time for which less detailed information about mummification practices existed.

Where to See Ancient Mummies Today

National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC)

The NMEC is home to ancient mummies in Fustat, Old Cairo, with a display of 22 royal mummies in its Royal Mummy Hall, including the mummies of some pharaohs such as Hatshepsut and Thutmose III; these were moved from the Egyptian Museum to the NMEC in the Pharaohs' Golden Parade in 2021.

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square

Unfortunately, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square cannot show you the ancient royal mummies today, as they have been relocated to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in 2021. Many other important artifacts remain in the Tahrir Square museum, but this museum now lacks the royal mummy collection, which has become one of the highlights of the new NMEC.

Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM – Future Home)

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Scientific Discoveries from Mummy Studies

Scientific studies of the mummies of ancient Egypt have revealed a number of intriguing details concerning the methods of their preservation. They included the certain chemical recipe for mummification and the more unexpected revelation of a "woody" and "spicy" aroma. Research also uncovered new details about the process, including the use of organic rods to remove the brain, the non-uniformity of regional mummification techniques, and a higher prevalence of parasitic worms in ancient Egyptians than previously thought. The success of extracting DNA from bones and teeth in genetic studies unveiled the close relation between ancient Egyptians and ancient and modern Near Eastern populations.

What CT Scans and DNA Reveal

CT scans and DNA analyses of ancient Egyptian mummies give insight into their health and way of life, as well as their embalming techniques, with evidence of disease such as cancer, heart disease, and infection. They also give clues to social status and can correct misidentifications, showing that many of the mummies had lives and ailments similar to present-day people, in contrast to popular belief. DNA analysis has also provided information about the ancestry of the ancient Egyptians.

Health and disease

• Cancer and heart disease: CT scans have revealed the oldest known cases of breast cancer and multiple myeloma in two mummies, which indicates that these diseases do have ancient origins. Other studies have found significant evidence of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, in many mummies, challenging the perception of it as a purely modern disease.
• Infections: Absence of disease on the bones of mummies from the Late Period suggests that acute infections were more likely causes of death. DNA analysis of soft tissues helped identify parasites and diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis.
• Chronic illnesses: Scans also uncovered other chronic ailments, including arthritis and problems in the eyes and teeth.

Lifestyle and social status

• Diet and physical activity: Scans have provided clues about lifestyle. For example, one mummy showed extensive teeth wear from sand in food, while another high-status individual had well-kept teeth, indicating access to better food, and little spinal wear, suggesting a life with less physical labor.
• Social class: Although the study of embalming techniques has shown sophistication, which was often tailored for an individual's status, illness affected all social classes. DNA analysis can also be used to provide details about an individual's ancestry.

Embalming and technology

• The techniques used for mummification: The non-invasive CT scan enables study of the detailed and sophisticated methods adopted for embalming, like removing organs, placing hidden amulets, among others, without causing damage to the mummies.
• Correcting misidentifications: Scans can also be used to correct misidentifications; for example, a priest's coffin was found to contain a much smaller boy, likely because the coffin had been reused.

Diseases and Health in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians suffered from a wide range of diseases, from the universal parasitic infections such as malaria and tuberculosis to chronic cardiovascular disease, dental problems, and cancer. Evidence of high levels of atherosclerosis, dental abscesses, and parasitic worms in mummies, and child mummies have been identified as suffering from severe anemia. Ancient medical knowledge included treatment from plants, such as willow bark for pain and moldy bread for infections, though many ailments were life-threatening.

Infectious diseases

• Malaria: As many as 70 percent of the population could have been infected with Plasmodium falciparum, transmitted by mosquitoes in the Nile delta.
• Tuberculosis: TB-causing microbes have been found in mummies, showing it was an important cause of death.
• Parasites: As many as 65% of the tested mummies had parasitic worms, most likely a result of poor sanitation and polluted water sources.

Cardiovascular disease:

• Atherosclerosis: Evidence of hardened plaque in the arteries was common, particularly among the elite who ate rich diets. It was present in mummies from different ages, indicating it had been a long-standing problem.

Dental problems:

• Dental caries and dental abscess: Very frequent, due either to diet or to hygiene practices, and thus very painful and infected.

Other chronic and acute conditions:

• Cancer: The presence of malignant diseases has been evident in a number of mummies.
• Anemia: Mummies of children also reveal signs of severe anemia caused by parasitic infections coupled with poor nutrition.
• Kidney stones: Renal and vesical calculi were common among the population.

Management of disabilities:

Unlike some other ancient societies, ancient Egyptians had an "enlightened attitude" toward disabilities and provided care and support for those who had deformities.

Myths and Pop Culture About Mummies

The modern myth of the mummy's curse was created by popular culture, based on the 1922 discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb and sensationalized reports in newspapers of the deaths that followed, many of which were exaggerated. 

Hollywood Movies and the “Mummy Curse”

This triggered a wave of Hollywood movies, starting with the 1932 The Mummy, where an animated, vengeful mummy was the villain. Although real ancient Egyptian tombs did sometimes contain curses meant to frighten off thieves, those were warnings, not supernatural curses like in the movies.

Hollywood's influence

The 1932 film The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff, played a major role in shaping the modern image of the mummy in cinema. It introduced audiences to the concept of a resurrected, wrapped corpse transformed into a powerful and deadly antagonist, setting the standard for how mummy characters would be portrayed in later films.

Evolution of the monster: Other films, such as The Mummy's Tomb and The Mummy's Curse, further honed the image of the lumbering, powerful, and hard-to-kill mummy into one of the classic horror tropes.

The "mummy's curse" is an enduring trope, hence finding its place in a number of films, mostly in a rather more fantastical manner, as was done in the 1999 and 2017 versions of The Mummy.

The myth of the "Mummy's Curse"

Origin: The myth came into prominence following the unearthing of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 and the subsequent death of a few people associated with that excavation, which was sensationalised by the media.

Real life versus myth: The most prominent death of expedition financier Lord Carnarvon was due to blood poisoning from a mosquito bite that had become infected, not because of a supernatural curse. The storyline of the curse was an invention of journalism and Hollywood, and conveniently ignored the fact that the lead archaeologist, Howard Carter, lived for almost 20 more years.

Ancient curses: Some ancient Egyptian tombs did indeed have protective inscriptions against desecration, but these were practical warnings, not the supernatural curses of pop culture.

Mummies in Modern Media and Literature

The image of the ancient Egyptian mummy in modern media and literature has little to do with its original cultural and religious context as a sacred means for the soul's transition to the afterlife, having become largely a fictionalised trope of horror and the supernatural. This modern perception comes from the 19th-century "Egyptomania" and then the so-called "mummy's curse" legends following upon the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb.

In Modern Media: Film and Television

Mummies have been a dominant feature in popular culture, especially horror cinema, since the early years of the 20th century.

• Horror Trope: Most films depict mummies as reanimated, vengeful monsters through the use of ancient magic or desecration of their tombs. This cinematic archetype was first developed in the classic Universal film The Mummy (1932), which starred Boris Karloff and frequently portrayed the mummy as a tragic figure searching for his lost love.
• Action and Adventure: With The Mummy, 1999, and its sequels, the late 1990s and early 2000s heralded a different development, in which horror was combined with action and adventure. These films include fully-fledged antagonists who summon plagues and threaten the world, although the directors often claim their film is based upon a real myth or legend.
• Its continued relevance means that the mummy will continue to be reinvented regularly, such as in the 2017 reboot starring Tom Cruise. This character of a mummy acts as a powerful metaphor for many human fears about mortality and the violation of the dead.

In Modern Literature and Art

First, literature and art developed the mummy's presence in Western consciousness, with a Victorian Era fascination with Egypt, further sensationalized by public events of "unrolling" mummies.

• Victorian Horror: Mummies appeared as supernatural villains in 19th-century Gothic novels, establishing the idea of the "mummy's curse" that would later be adopted by Hollywood.
• Guilt and the Afterlife: It is argued by scholars that this preoccupation with curses and punishment in Western literature reveals a kind of cultural guilt about having tampered with the dead and put human remains on show in museums. The original Egyptian belief, however, held that a preserved body was essential for the soul's continuation in the afterlife, a stark contrast to the modern portrayal of the mummy as a harbinger of bad luck.
• Scientific and Ethical Discussions: The modern literature of today, largely non-fiction and academic in nature, has shifted its focus on the scientific value of mummies. Advanced techniques are utilized in research studies using CT scans and DNA analysis; studies of ancient diseases, diets, and methods of mummification provide new insights into ancient life and inform modern medicine. This has also brought about continuing ethical discussions in museum literature with respect to human remains being presented in a respectful manner.

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Book a Mummies Tour in Egypt – Explore the Past Up Close

You can book a Grand Egyptian Museum Tour in Egypt through Egypt Online Tour. This tour is often guided by an Egyptologist and can include transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. Booking in advance is recommended, as tours can be popular and may book up weeks ahead.

What to expect on our tour?

• Inside Guided Experience: You will be guided by a private Egyptologist who provides detailed historical context and stories.
• Visiting museums: Most tours include either the Royal Mummies Hall at the NEMC or the Mummy Room in the Egyptian Museum.
• Transportation: Transportation, often in an air-conditioned vehicle, is usually included with private tours.
• Advance booking: It is generally recommended to book at least 21 days in advance during the peak tourist period.
• Flexibility: Private tours have more flexibility with regards to scheduling and even pace.
• Contact us now to reveal our Egypt tour packages.