What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the word "mummy"? If you're like many, it's probably King Tut and/or Egypt. You'd be right, of course. That said, this book illustrates that the word isn't restricted to Egypt's relatively well-known mummies. As it turns out, the mummification or preservation process was far more wide-spread than I realized. I mean, did you know a sect of monks once sought to self-mummify themselves?
I won't spoil the discovery process for you but will note that for me the way the various people's mummy was humanized was a strong point. We find out, for instance, about a sacrificial ceremony that left a young Inca girl entombed with not only blood still in her veins but her last breathe captured in her lungs before she died. Otzi the Ice Man had some 61 tattoos, all meaningful, and died from an arrowhead embedded in his left shoulder, so probably never saw who killed him. The Tollund Man found in the bogs probably knew, of course, as his preserved body still had a noose around his neck. The attempt of some monks to use self-mummification was totally new to me, I must admit, and both fascinating and horrifying at the hardship and pain that had to be involved.
And, oh, so much more. All capped by a substantial glossary and index at the end as well as a world map showing the location of the various cultures/mummies discussed. Heck, even the tragic citizens of Pompeii get space, including all that a full examination of their bodies disclosed. My thanks to #NosyCrow who published this in collaboration with the British Museum. Absolutely fascinating with great illustrations and easy to understand text.
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