Mummies of the World [Hardcover]

Alfried Wieczorek (Author, Editor), Wilfried Rosendahl (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2010

This compelling book provides a historical, cultural and scientific look at mummies and mummification and proves that fact is as compelling as fiction. As the companion catalogue to the Mummies of the World exhibition, this book features mummies from a variety of natural environments and several cultures, including Asia, Oceania, South America, Europe and Ancient Egypt.

The book reveals not only many of the techniques that ancient cultures used to preserve the bodies of the dead, but also the many natural processes leading to the preservation of bodies in desert sands, ice or acidic bogs, or even in attics.

Nearly thirty scientific essays, with outstanding photographs and illustrations, bring together the latest research in mummy studies, with contributions from archaeology, anthropology, palaeopathology, biology and many other disciplines. With dignity and reverence, this volume shares the hidden information contained within the mummies.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ALFRIED WIECZOREK is Managing Director of the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Mannheim, Germany. WILFRIED ROSENDAHL is Curator at the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen in Mannheim, Germany, and a leading authority in the field of mummy research.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 378 pages
• Publisher: Prestel USA (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791350307
• ISBN-13: 978-3791350301
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Brilliantly Detailed Tome on Mummies", September 11, 2010

By 

Russell A. Rohde MD "Owl" (West Covina, California USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mummies of the World (Hardcover)

"Mummies of the World" by Editors Aldried Wieczork and Wilfired Rosendahl. Prestal, NY 2010 ISBN 978-3-7913-6275-5, PB 366/384 glossy quality paper. Notes & Ref. 18 pgs. 11" x 9 1/2" x 1". Inveiglements aboujt, with hundreds of ample-sized referenced photographs, nearly all in color.

A complete tome on mummies of the world, not just with photographs, but in context of group scientific inquisition including conventional radiographs (X-ray), CT scans (Computed Tomography), nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses, conventional and electron microscopies, radio-carbon dating, etc., all done under the discriminating auspices of the German Mummy Project and the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen.

All Total, many hundreds of mummies are discussed, in detail, from a myriad of cultures representing all major countries of the world. Of great interest are those mummies pre-dating Egyptian mummies by thousands of years, some 6,000-8,000 yrs. B.C. Pictures and discussions cover conventional, bog, ice, cave, salt, and natural mummies - including a great deal abount cultural events events entwined with mummification of adults, children, and animals. There is even a thorough discussion of mummies depicted in the movies, their themes, and suggestions for reading material for younger age groups. The book was published with exhibition venues featuring "Mummies of the World" that arrived mid-year in the United States in 2010. There are no comparable books under a single cover. Importantly, the detailed scientific inquiries and methodologies are most recent.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a Book to Have!, February 18, 2011

By 

Shadows Mom (Chino, Calif USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mummies of the World (Hardcover)

If you're into mummies and the history of them, etc., then I would definitely buy this book. It's a beautiful book that anyone would be proud to display. And the information in it? Oh my goodness, this book covers EVERYTHING!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth it, July 24, 2011

By 

Martijn "mdj" (Montclair, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mummies of the World (Hardcover)

I visited the "Mummies of the World" exhibition in Philadelphia yesterday. I wanted to buy something as a souvenir, and came across this book. I thought it was a bit expensive but found it more informative than the short guide which only covered the exhibition in photographs. When I got home and got a chance to really look through the book though it certainly didn't disappoint and I am glad I bought it. Besides information on the mummies in the exhibition the book goes well beyond that and provides a ton of information and photographs of all sorts of mummies across the world- human and animal, ancient and modern, and from all the continents. Even if you don't get a chance to visit the exhibition, and you're just looking for a book on mummies, I highly recommend this. Very comprehensive and informed.