What is a mummy? It's an old, dead body that's refused to rot. To qualify as a mummy, a dead body must have at least its bones, skin and hair, and it has to look like a human being.
Mummies have been found all over the world, and in some of the strangest places on earth. Egyptian mummies are the most famous, but preserved bodies have also been found in peat bogs in England, on the mountain tops of the Andes, in deserts in China, even on Mount Everest!
Some mummies died naturally, others were sacrificed to their gods. Nature has been preserving bodies longer -- and often more successfully -- than humans have. And throughout history, for certain cultures, preserving dead bodies has been an important part of their belief system. No matter how these mummies came to be, they all have fascinating tales to tell of life in another time and place. Their remains reveal much about how they lived -- and died.
Did You Know:
- When the mummy of King Ramses II flew from Cairo to Paris he traveled with a passport? His occupation was listed as 'King (deceased).' This entitled him to a guard of honor and a ceremonial salute at the airport. Under the city of Palermo, Italy, there lies a City of the Dead. If you lived in Palermo 100 years ago, you would have visited your dead relatives there. You'd have found their dried-out bodies laid in coffins, dressed in their funeral clothes. The preserved body of famous mountaineer George Leigh Mallory was discovered on Mount Everest in May, 1999. In 1924, Mallory and his climbing partner attempted to reach the top of the mountain. Did his mummified body hold evidence that they had made it?
With just the right dose of gruesome details and mesmerizing facts, Sylvia Funston's gripping text introduces readers to some of the most famous -- and not so famous -- mummies. Readers will learn how different sorts of mummies are made, how dead bodies tell tales, and even how to make your own mummy at home! Other sections include 'Ask a Mummy' and 'The Mummy Timeline.' Incredible photographs and witty illustrations round out this Strange Science adventure.
