You’re wandering through a museum display about the history of Egypt. Then you see them: wrapped bodies under glass. Mummies! 

    The display explains that these mummies are from thousands of years ago. Ancient Egyptians believed that a person needed his or her body in the afterlife. They wrapped cloth strips around the bodies of the dead to preserve, or protect, them. 

    You look closer. A few of the mummies’ wrappings have torn over time. Teeth and fingers poke through the cloth. Some visitors are fascinated. Others are scared. 

    For years, mummy exhibits have helped teach us about ancient Egypt. But recently, many museums have started to question putting the dead on display. After all, mummies were once living people with friends and families, just like us. 

    Should mummy exhibits become a thing of the past?

    You’re in a museum. There’s a display about the history of Egypt. Then you see them: wrapped bodies under glass. Mummies! 

    These mummies are thousands of years old. Ancient Egyptians believed that a person needed his or her body in the afterlife. They wrapped cloth strips around the bodies of the dead to protect them.

    You look closer. Some of the wrappings have torn over time. Teeth and fingers poke through the cloth. Some visitors are fascinated. Some are scared.

    For years, mummy exhibits have helped teach us about ancient Egypt. But lately, museums have started to question putting the dead on display. Mummies were once living people with friends and families, just like us.

    Should museums stop displaying mummies?

    You’re wandering through a museum display about the history of Egypt. Then you see them: wrapped bodies under glass. Mummies! 

    The display explains that these mummies are from thousands of years ago. Ancient Egyptians believed that a person needed his or her body in the afterlife. They wrapped cloth strips around the bodies of the dead to preserve, or protect, them.

    Looking closer, you can see that a few of the mummies’ wrappings have torn over time. Teeth and fingers poke through the fabric. Some visitors are fascinated, while others are frightened.

    For years, mummy exhibits have helped teach us about ancient Egypt. But recently, many museums have started to question putting the dead on display. After all, mummies were once living people with friends and families, just like us.

    Should mummy exhibits become a thing of the past?

    Egyptians made mummies for more than 2,000 years, starting in 2,600 b.c_. Studying these wrapped bodies has helped experts learn about ancient life. What did ancient Egyptians eat? How did they spend their days? Mummies have helped answer these questions. And that information is now shared in museums. 

    Seeing mummies up close is exciting. Some experts say it’s a one-of-a-kind way to bring history to life. “It is amazing to be able to see people who lived thousands of years ago,” says Peter Lacovara. He’s an archaeologist. That’s a scientist who learns about the past by studying things left behind by ancient people. 

    Egyptians made mummies because they believed they were helping the dead live on forever. Being remembered was important to them. So aren’t museums doing exactly what ancient Egyptians would have wanted?

    Egyptians made mummies for more than 2,000 years, starting in 2,600  b.c. Studying mummies has helped experts learn about ancient life. What did ancient Egyptians eat? How did they spend their days? Mummies have helped answer these questions. Those answers are now shared in museums.

    Seeing mummies up close is exciting. “It is amazing to be able to see people who lived thousands of years ago,” says Peter Lacovara. He’s an archaeologist. That’s a scientist who learns about the past by studying things left behind by ancient people.

    Egyptians made mummies because they believed they were helping the dead live on forever. Being remembered was important to them. So aren’t museums doing what ancient Egyptians would have wanted?

    Egyptians made mummies for more than 2,000 years, starting in 2,600  b.c. Studying these wrapped bodies has helped experts learn about ancient life. What did ancient Egyptians eat? How did they spend their days? Mummies have helped answer these questions, and that information is now shared in museums.

    Seeing mummies up close is exciting. Some experts say it’s a one-of-a-kind way to bring history to life. “It is amazing to be able to see people who lived thousands of years ago,” says Peter Lacovara. He’s an archaeologist—a scientist who learns about the past by studying items left behind by ancient people.

    Egyptians made mummies because they believed they were helping the dead live on forever. Being remembered was important to them—so aren’t museums doing exactly what ancient Egyptians would have wanted?

    Maybe not. After all, ancient Egyptians protected their dead by burying them deep in the earth. Sometimes they even hid mummies within mazes to keep people away!

    Heba Abd el Gawad is an expert on ancient Egypt. She doesn’t think ancient Egyptians would have wanted their mummies on display. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed,” she says.

    Mummy displays bring up other issues too. Some people take selfies with mummies. Gift shops sell mugs and key chains with mummy faces on them. Is that respectful to the dead? Some people say no.

    Finally, experts have studied mummies for decades. They’ve shared their findings in books, in films, and on websites. There are other ways to learn about mummies aside from museums.

    Maybe it’s time to let mummies rest in peace.

    Maybe not. Ancient Egyptians protected their dead by burying them deep in the earth. Sometimes they even hid mummies inside mazes to keep people away!

    Heba Abd el Gawad is an expert on ancient Egypt. She doesn’t think ancient Egyptians would have wanted their mummies on display. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed,” she says.

    There are other issues too. Some people take selfies with mummies. Gift shops sell mugs with mummy faces on them. Is that treating the dead with respect? Some people say no.

    Also, experts have studied mummies for a long time. They’ve shared their findings in books, in films, and on websites. Museums are not the only way to learn about mummies.

    Is it time to let mummies rest in peace? 

    Maybe not. After all, ancient Egyptians protected their dead by burying them deep in the earth. Sometimes they even hid mummies within mazes to keep people away!

    Heba Abd el Gawad, an expert on ancient Egypt, doesn’t think ancient Egyptians would have supported the idea of mummy exhibits. “They wanted their bodies left undisturbed,” she says.

    Mummy displays bring up other issues too. Museum visitors take selfies with mummies, and gift shops sell mugs and key chains with mummy faces on them. Some people believe these actions are disrespectful to the dead.

    Finally, experts have studied mummies for decades and shared their findings in books, in films, and on websites. Museums are certainly not the only resource for learning about mummies.

    Perhaps it’s time we allowed mummies to rest in peace.

^{—Reporting by Nicole Tocco}

^{—Reporting by Nicole Tocco}

^{—Reporting by Nicole Tocco}