Should Mummies Be in Museums?

Hundreds of people lined a street in Cairo, Egypt, in April. They watched a parade of military trucks drive through the Egyptian capital. The vehicles carried the mummies of 22 ancient Egyptians. The pharaohs and other royalty were heading to their new home at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

The bodies were mummified more than 3,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt, people often carefully wrapped up the bodies of the dead to prevent them from rotting away. They believed that a person needed his or her body in the afterlife.

For more than a century, people have visited museums around the world to see mummies and learn more about the people of ancient Egypt.

But many museums are rethinking whether or not mummies are too sacred—or too scary—to display. The Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, is removing a mummy exhibit this year. Sanchita Balachandran is the museum’s associate director. She says showing the mummy no longer feels right to the staff.

“We are really trying to think more carefully about how to be responsible to people of the past,” she says.

Hundreds of people lined a street in Cairo, Egypt, in April. They watched a parade of military trucks drive through the Egyptian capital. The vehicles carried the mummies of 22 ancient Egyptians. The pharaohs and other royalty were heading to their new home. It was at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

The bodies were mummified more than 3,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt, people often carefully wrapped up the bodies of the dead. This was to prevent them from rotting away. They believed that a person needed his or her body in the afterlife. 

For more than a century, people have visited museums around the world to see mummies. They also go to learn more about the people of ancient Egypt.

But many museums are rethinking whether or not mummies are too sacred—or too scary—to display. The Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, is removing a mummy exhibit this year. Sanchita Balachandran is the museum’s associate director. She says showing the mummy no longer feels right to the staff.

“We are really trying to think more carefully about how to be responsible to people of the past,” she says.

Archaeologists point out that human remains provide valuable information about the past.

“Mummies are an important part of history,” says archaeologist Peter Lacovara. “It is amazing to be able to see people who lived thousands of years ago.”

Since the 1800s, researchers have used mummies to study everything from what ancient people wore and ate to the diseases they suffered from. Some experts think mummies belong in museums to allow future generations to learn from them.

Lacovara and other experts say that as long as mummies are treated respectfully and taken care of properly, there’s no reason to remove them from museums. They also point out that the dead were mummified in order to live on and be remembered.

“To have their bodies preserved, visited, and remembered was very important,” Lacovara says. “Museums are doing exactly what they would have wanted.”

Archaeologists note that human remains provide information about the past.

“Mummies are an important part of history,” says archaeologist Peter Lacovara. “It is amazing to be able to see people who lived thousands of years ago.”

Since the 1800s, researchers have used mummies to study a lot. This includes what ancient people wore and ate to the diseases they suffered from. Some experts think mummies belong in museums so future generations can learn from them.

Lacovara and other experts say that as long as mummies are treated respectfully and taken care of properly, there’s no reason to remove them from museums. They also say the dead were mummified to live on and be remembered after death.

“To have their bodies preserved, visited, and remembered was very important,” Lacovara says. “Museums are doing exactly what they would have wanted.”

But some historians say that’s not the case. They argue that ancient Egyptians preserved bodies to prepare them for the world after death. Displaying the unwrapped bodies in museums, they say, is disregarding the wishes of the dead.

“We know what Egyptians wanted to happen after death, and it never included such a public display,” explains Heba Abd el Gawad. She’s a historian who studies ancient Egypt. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed.”

Some people say seeing dead bodies can frighten museum visitors. Experts can study mummies behind closed doors and then share their findings, Abd el Gawad adds.

“We learn nothing by seeing a dead body publicly displayed without her or his consent,” she says.

Many scholars say it’s not OK to disturb a body in its final resting place just to satisfy curiosity.

“Mummies are not things—they were humans, like us,” says Abd el Gawad. “It’s disrespectful to display them like objects that museum visitors use as backgrounds for selfies.”

But some historians say that’s not the case. They argue that ancient Egyptians preserved bodies to prepare them for the world after death. Displaying the unwrapped bodies in museums, they say, is disregarding the wishes of the dead.

“We know what Egyptians wanted to happen after death, and it never included such a public display,” explains Heba Abd el Gawad. He is a historian who studies ancient Egypt. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed.”

Some people say seeing dead bodies can frighten museum visitors. Others point out that experts can study humans remains behind closed doors. Then, they can share their findings.

“We learn nothing by seeing a dead body publicly displayed without her or his consent,” Abd el Gawad says.

Many scholars say it’s not OK to disturb a body in its final resting place just to satisfy curiosity.

“Mummies are not things—they were humans, like us,” says Abd el Gawad. “It’s disrespectful to display them like objects that museum visitors use as backgrounds for selfies.”