During the Victorian era in the 1800s, Egypt’s rich history became accessible to Europeans following Napoleon’s conquest. Surprisingly, mummies were not treated with the reverence they deserved among the European elites. In fact, street vendors openly sold mummies, which were used as macabre attractions for parties and social gatherings during the 18th century. This article explores the controversial practice of selling mummies in Egypt during that time and its various uses.
Mummy Unwrapping Parties and the Exploitation of Mummies
The fascination with mummies in the Victorian era extended beyond mere display and decoration. The elites took it a step further by organizing “Mummy Unwrapping Parties,” which were both bizarre and macabre. These gatherings were filled with excitement and anticipation as the wrapped mummy would be unveiled in front of a captivated audience. The attendees would cheer and applaud as each layer of the mummy’s wrappings was carefully removed, revealing the preserved remains within.
However, the exploitation of mummies went beyond these extravagant events. The demand for pulverized mummy as a medicinal remedy surged during this time. Believed to possess mystical and healing properties, powdered mummy became a sought-after ingredient. This popularity created a counterfeit trade where unscrupulous individuals passed off the flesh of beggars, executed criminals, and those who had died from diseases as ancient mummified Egyptians. The unsuspecting consumers were often unaware of the deception, consuming what they believed to be a powerful curative substance.
The Victorian era’s treatment of mummies reflects a peculiar combination of fascination, curiosity, and disregard for the sanctity of ancient human remains. It serves as a stark reminder of how cultural artifacts and historical treasures were sometimes treated as mere commodities, subject to exploitation and sensationalism.
Utilitarian Exploitation and Industrial Uses
As the Industrial Revolution gained momentum, the utilitarian exploitation of Egyptian mummies reached new heights. The demand for organic fertilizers grew, and Egyptian mummies became a prized source of nutrients. Large quantities of human and animal mummies were ground into a fine powder and exported to countries like Britain and Germany to be used as fertilizer for agricultural purposes. It was a grim fate for these ancient remains, as they were reduced to a mere commodity in the pursuit of increased agricultural productivity.
Furthermore, mummies found their way into various industrial processes. The wrappings of mummies, carefully preserved for centuries, were stripped and shipped to the United States. They became a valuable resource for the paper-making industry, where they were used as a raw material for the production of paper. The irony of ancient Egyptian texts and artifacts being transformed into a material for mass-produced paper was not lost on those who reflected on this practice.
The shocking extent of mummy exploitation even extended to locomotive fuel. Reports emerged of mummies being burned as a source of energy to power steam engines. The once revered and preserved bodies of ancient Egyptians were reduced to a fuel source, consumed in the relentless pursuit of progress and industrialization.
The Trade and Manufacture of Fake Mummies
As the demand for mummies in Europe continued to rise, the limited supply of genuine ancient Egyptian bodies became a significant challenge. In response, a disturbing practice emerged – the creation of counterfeit mummies. Desperate to meet the market’s insatiable appetite for these relics, unscrupulous individuals resorted to using the corpses of various individuals.
Executed criminals, the elderly, the poor, and those who had succumbed to diseases became the unfortunate sources for these fabricated mummies. Their bodies were subjected to crude methods of preservation, such as burial in the sand or treatment with bitumen, a viscous substance commonly used in ancient mummification practices. These makeshift mummies were then exposed to the scorching sun, attempting to mimic the natural desiccation process that occurred over centuries in authentic mummification.
The creation of counterfeit mummies was driven by the scarcity of genuine specimens, as the demand for these relics far surpassed the available supply. It was a grim reflection of the lengths people were willing to go to profit from the fascination with ancient Egypt. The exploitation of the deceased, whether criminals or the marginalized, underscored the callous disregard for human dignity in the pursuit of financial gain.
This practice not only perpetuated the deception of buyers seeking authentic relics but also perpetuated the erosion of the historical and cultural significance associated with genuine mummified remains. The fabrication of counterfeit mummies further blurred the lines between what was genuinely ancient and what was merely a product of opportunistic manipulation.
The Decline and Legacy of Mummy Brown
Mummy brown, a unique pigment derived from the finely ground remains of Egyptian mummies, gained popularity among artists during the 16th and 17th centuries. This distinctive pigment offered transparent qualities and versatility in artistic expression. Artists believed that the inclusion of bitumen, a tar-like substance, and mummified flesh in oil paint not only provided rich earthy tones but also enhanced the durability of their artwork by preventing cracking and drying.
Tube of Mummy Brown pigment from Roberson and Co (Harvard Art Museums)
The use of mummy brown in paintings and other artistic works was a reflection of the prevailing fascination with ancient Egypt during that time. The pigment provided a connection to the mystique and history of the pharaohs, creating an allure for both artists and collectors.
However, the supply of available mummies eventually dwindled, leading to the discontinuation of traditional mummy brown production. By the 20th century, the demand for the pigment exceeded the available source material, and the ethical concerns surrounding its production became increasingly apparent. The recognition of the historical and cultural significance of mummified remains, coupled with the growing understanding of the need for their preservation, resulted in the abandonment of mummy brown as an artistic material.
Today, the use of genuine mummy brown pigment is virtually nonexistent, and its production has been replaced by synthetic alternatives. The discontinuation of traditional mummy brown production serves as a testament to the evolving awareness and respect for cultural heritage, as well as the acknowledgment of the ethical considerations involved in the use of human remains for artistic purposes.
The trade of street vendors selling mummies in Egypt during the Victorian era was a controversial and macabre phenomenon. Mummies were bought and used for various purposes, from entertainment at Mummy Unwrapping Parties to industrial applications like fertilizer and pigment production. The scarcity of genuine mummies led to the creation of counterfeit specimens, made from the bodies of criminals and the deceased. The legacy of this trade serves as a reminder of the peculiar and often exploitative fascination with ancient Egyptian artifacts during that era.