Do Mummies Belong in Museums?

Thousands of years ago, an Egyptian man named Nesmin passed away. His body was carefully wrapped in strips of cloth and turned into a mummy. It was then placed in a painted coffin and sealed inside a tomb where it was meant to stay forever.

But that’s not how things turned out for Nesmin. 

Since 2010, his mummy has been traveling the United States as part of an exhibition called “Mummies of the World.” Museum visitors can look through a glass case at Nesmin’s wrapped body. Some visitors are fascinated. Others are troubled.

For more than 100 years, mummy exhibits have helped teach people about ancient Egypt. But recently, many museums have started asking whether it’s disrespectful to put mummies on display. After all, they were once living people with families and friends, just like us. 

Does that mean museums should stop displaying mummies?

Thousands of years ago, an Egyptian man passed away. His name was Nesmin. His body was wrapped in cloth and turned into a mummy. It was then placed in a painted coffin and sealed inside a tomb. It was meant to stay in the tomb forever.

But that’s not how things turned out for Nesmin.

Since 2010, his mummy has been traveling around the United States. It’s part of an exhibition, or show, called “Mummies of the World.” Museum visitors can look through a glass case at Nesmin’s wrapped body. Some visitors are fascinated. Others are troubled.

For more than 100 years, mummy exhibits have helped teach people about ancient Egypt. But lately, many museums have started asking: Is it disrespectful to put mummies on display? After all, they were once living people with families and friends, just like us.

Does that mean museums should stop displaying mummies?

Studying mummies has taught researchers a lot about ancient Egyptians, including what they ate and what they did in their daily lives. Museum exhibits can help bring that history to life for visitors. 

“Mummies draw attention to the past,” says John Norman, who helped produce the “Mummies of the World” exhibit. 

Mummies also draw attention to the museums that display them. They can bring in thousands of visitors who might have otherwise stayed home. And once they’re at the museum, visitors can learn about important history that shouldn’t be forgotten.

It’s possible that ancient Egyptians may have been OK with having their mummies on display. They believed that life continued after death. And the point of making mummies was to preserve bodies for as long as possible, so they could be used in the afterlife. Some say that mummy exhibits are helping ancient Egyptians achieve the everlasting life they wanted. 

“To have their bodies . . . visited and remembered was a very important part of ancient Egyptian beliefs,” says Peter Lacovara, who has studied some of Egypt’s most famous sites. Lacovara argues that museums are doing exactly what ancient Egyptians would have wanted. 

Studying mummies has taught researchers a lot. It’s helped them learn about what ancient Egyptians ate and what they did in their daily lives. Museum exhibits can bring that history to life for visitors.

“Mummies draw attention to the past,” says John Norman. Norman helped create the “Mummies of the World” exhibit.

Mummies also draw attention to the museums that display them. They can bring in thousands of visitors. These visitors might have otherwise stayed home. At the museum, they can learn about important history that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Perhaps ancient Egyptians would have been OK with having their mummies on display. They believed that life continued after death. And the point of making mummies was to keep bodies for as long as possible, so they could be used in the afterlife. Some say that mummy exhibits are helping ancient Egyptians have the unending life they wanted.

“To have their bodies . . . visited and remembered was a very important part of ancient Egyptian beliefs,” says Peter Lacovara. Lacovara has studied some of Egypt’s most famous sites. He argues that museums are doing exactly what ancient Egyptians would have wanted.

Of course, no one can really know what Egyptians living thousands of years ago would have thought of mummy exhibits. But one thing’s for sure: Ancient Egyptians did all they could to protect mummies. They placed mummies inside tombs that were often hidden deep underground. Entrances were blocked with heavy stones. 

This shows that mummy exhibits go against the wishes of the dead, says Heba Abd el Gawad, an expert on ancient Egypt. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed,” she says. 

Displaying mummies alongside old vases, jewelry, and weapons disrespects the dead in another way too: It treats them like objects. Abd el Gawad says it’s important to remember that “mummies are not things—they were humans.” 

There are other ways to learn about ancient Egypt. We could study the objects ancient Egyptians left behind. We can also learn about them online and from books and documentaries.

Most everyone agrees that if mummies continue to be displayed, they should be handled with respect. At the “Mummies of the World” exhibit, Nesmin and other mummies are shown in dimly lit, quiet rooms. Taking photos isn’t allowed. 

But is that enough? Or should mummies be kept out of displays in the first place?

Of course, no one can really know what Egyptians living thousands of years ago would have thought of mummy exhibits. But one thing’s for sure: Ancient Egyptians did all they could to protect mummies. They placed mummies inside tombs that were often hidden underground. Entrances were blocked with heavy stones.

This shows that mummy exhibits go against the wishes of the dead, says Heba Abd el Gawad. She’s an expert on ancient Egypt. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed,” she says.

Displaying mummies next to old vases, jewelry, and weapons disrespects the dead in another way too: It treats them like objects. Abd el Gawad says it’s important to remember that “mummies are not things—they were humans.”

There are other ways to learn about ancient Egypt. We could study the objects ancient Egyptians left behind. We can also learn about them online and from books and TV shows.

Almost everyone agrees: If mummies continue to be displayed, they should be handled with respect. At the “Mummies of the World” exhibit, Nesmin and other mummies are shown in dimly lit, quiet rooms. Taking photos isn’t allowed.

But is that enough? Or should mummies be kept out of displays in the first place?