LIFE Mummies
LIFE: Mummies
Enchantment, Horror, and Mortality • Mummies have long intrigued us as a window to the past—and a hint of our future.
The Mummies of Egypt • No culture is more closely associated with mummification than that of the ancient Egyptians. Bodies were carefully preserved and then adorned with lavish decor and accessories for the spirit’s transition to the afterlife.
Gateway to the Afterlife • The subject of endless fascination, the ornate mummification practices of ancient Egyptians connected to their religious beliefs of life after death.
Creatures in the Crypt • MUMMIFIED ANIMALS WERE A STAPLE OF EGYPTIAN TOMBS.
What Lies Beneath • Centuries after the age of the pharaohs, the discovery of their extravagant ancient tombs opened a window to the majesty and mystery of a cultural phenomenon.
The Allure of King Tut • The discovery of the spectacularly opulent tomb of Egypt’s enigmatic “boy king” revealed what is arguably history’s most famous mummy.
Curse of the Mummy? • SEPARATING FACT AND FICTION SURROUNDING THE SUPERSTITIOUS MYTHS OF ANCIENT HEXES.
Mummies Everywhere • The Egyptians were not the only people—or even the first—to preserve the bodies of royalty and loved ones. Since at least 5000 BCE, mummification existed in South America, and later across the globe, both by human hands and naturally.
Celebrating the Dead • Several ancient South American cultures engaged in mummification, most notably the Chinchorros, who mourned and honored their loved ones, especially children, through elaborate (and mysterious) processes starting 7,000 years ago.
A Global Phenomenon • Examples of mummification—whether through careful preparation or by accident—have also been found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
The Mummies Among Us • Though the practice peaked thousands of years ago, there have been many prominent examples of mummification in recent memory, including Eva Perón, Vladimir Lenin, and one anonymous man from Baltimore.
A Pop Culture Fascination • For more than a century, movies have put the spotlight on fictional versions of mummies, leaning into our fear of the undead and taking liberties with the actual history of these mysterious, frightening, and sometimes enchanting figures.
Hollywood’s Monster Mania • Thanks to our ongoing interest, mummies have long been a cinematic staple.
Mummies Dearest • ON THE PAGE AND ON TELEVISION, THESE BANDAGED BANDITS CONTINUE TO SPRING TO LIFE.
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LIFE: Mummies Photo Credits
Face-to-Face with a Pharaoh • MODERN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMED A WELL-PRESERVED MUMMY INTO A LIFELIKE PORTRAIT OF AN EGYPTIAN KING.