Mummy Mania: Unwrapping the Peculiar Victorian Obsession with Ancient Relics"
By Jude Obuseh
Napoleon's conquest of Egypt opened the doors of Egyptian history to Europeans. Surprisingly, mummies, once revered, were sold by street vendors for use in peculiar events like "Mummy Unwrapping Parties" at social gatherings.
🎉 The Elites of the time embraced the macabre, organizing parties where mummies were unwrapped before a cheering audience. This odd fascination extended to the consumption of well-preserved ancient Egyptian remains ground into a powder and touted as a medicinal remedy.
💊 The popularity of pulverized mummies led to a counterfeit trade, with beggars' flesh passed off as ancient mummified Egyptians. As the Industrial Revolution progressed, mummies found utilitarian purposes, being ground up and shipped for fertilizer, mummy brown pigment, and even used as fuel for locomotives.
🚂 Mark Twain reported the burning of mummies in Egypt for locomotive fuel. Throughout the 19th century, mummies became prized as display pieces, purchased by wealthy collectors as tourist souvenirs. For those on a budget, disarticulated remains were available on the black market.
🏛️ The bizarre fascination with mummies sheds light on the eccentricities of a bygone era.
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