“The Curious Case of Mummies in 19th Century Egypt: From Street Vendor Sales to Unwrapping Parties”
The Victorian era of the 1800s witnessed a fascinating yet peculiar trend in Europe’s fascination with ancient Egyptian artifacts, particularly mummies. Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt during this time period played a crucial role in unveiling Egypt’s rich history to the Europeans. Surprisingly, mummies, which are typically regarded with great respect today, were once available for purchase from street vendors, as depicted in a captivating photograph from 1865.
Mummies as Social Events: In a rather unusual turn of events, the European elites of the 18th century hosted extravagant “Mummy Unwrapping Parties.” These events were characterized by the unwrapping of mummies in front of enthusiastic audiences who cheered and applauded during the process. The well-preserved remains of ancient Egyptians became the main attraction for these social gatherings, adding a unique and macabre element to the Victorian entertainment scene.
Mummies as Medicinal Remedies: During this era, the well-preserved remains of ancient Egyptians were not only used for entertainment but also for medicinal purposes. The mummies were routinely ground into a powder and consumed as a remedy. The popularity of pulverized mummy powder led to a counterfeit trade where the flesh of beggars was deceitfully sold as that of ancient mummified Egyptians.
As the Industrial Revolution progressed, Egyptian mummies faced exploitation for more utilitarian purposes. Large quantities of human and animal mummies were ground up and shipped to Britain and Germany for use as fertilizer. Additionally, some mummies were utilized to create mummy brown pigment, while their wrappings were exported to the United States for use in the paper-making industry. Mark Twain even reported instances where mummies were burnt in Egypt as fuel for locomotives.
Mummies as Collectibles: In the latter half of the 19th century, mummies transitioned from being mere commodities to prized objects of display. Wealthy European and American private collectors eagerly purchased scores of mummies as exotic tourist souvenirs. For those unable to afford an entire mummy, disarticulated remains such as heads, hands, or feet were available on the black market and could be smuggled back home.
The 19th-century fascination with Egyptian mummies reveals a peculiar chapter in history where these ancient artifacts were treated with a lack of the reverence they now command. From street vendor sales and unwrapping parties to medicinal remedies and industrial exploitation, the journey of Egyptian mummies during the Victorian era is a testament to the evolving perceptions and uses of ancient relics in different cultural contexts.
