Mummification

Mummification was a complicated process. In Egypt, brains were dragged with a hook through the body’s nose, and organs were put in jars to bury alongside the body! Why would anyone want to do that? Many civilizations believed in an afterlife and thought that a body should remain in a good condition to travel there. Egyptians were well known for their mummies, but many other civilizations practiced the art, too. China, South America, Italy, and the Canary Islands all have mummies. Some mummies happened naturally, such as in extreme cold places or peat bogs. Some more modern famous people have been preserved, such as Russian premier Vladimir Lenin and the philosopher Jeremy Bentham, who still sits in a chair on display at a University in London, England! This fascinating book gives readers a compelling look at the science and historical contexts behind mummification, and shows them through detailed photographs and creative illustrations the world of mummies up close!