National Museum of History Unveils Egyptian Mummy Exhibition: Exploring the Secrets of Eternal Life in Ancient Civilization

Central News

(Central News Agency reporter Wang Bao'er, Taipei, June 17) Unveiling the mysteries of ancient Egypt through cultural relics, the National Museum of History will launch the international exhibition 'Egyptian Mummies' tomorrow. The exhibition features a female mummy, an infant mummy, a dog mummy, and the iconic scarab beetle famously depicted in the movie 'The Mummy'.

Today, the National Museum of History held the opening ceremony for the international exhibition 'Egyptian Mummies – Legends of Eternity'. The exhibition brings together over 100 artifacts from the National Archaeological Museum in Florence, Italy. In addition to mummies, it showcases painted coffins, ancient Egyptian funerary objects, and everyday items buried as grave goods to support the deceased in the afterlife.

Maria Cristina Guidotti, curator from the National Archaeological Museum in Florence, explained that the exhibition originated from a museum research project on mummy preservation several years ago. According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, death was not an end but a continuation of life. To achieve this, the body had to be preserved in the best possible condition.

Guidotti noted that in ancient Egyptian customs, mummies were created to ensure the deceased could continue their existence in the afterlife. The mummification process has long fascinated people, often evoking mystery and even fear. This exhibition focuses on the embalming techniques, burial artifacts, and grave goods, offering insights into the magic of eternity.

The exhibition is divided across two floors: the first floor features two coffins and a recreated ancient Egyptian setting, while the second floor is organized into five thematic zones. The mummies are displayed on the second floor, highlighting ancient Egyptian techniques for preserving human remains. Exhibits include a female mummy estimated to date from 1–2 CE, an infant mummy from 2–3 CE, and a dog mummy from approximately 664–332 BCE.

Research from the Florence Archaeological Museum has revealed details about the mummies’ past lives. The infant mummy, named Calistus, was about one to two years old at death, and the name of the infant’s father is inscribed on the coffin lid. Although the female mummy’s name remains unknown, skeletal analysis suggests she may have died during childbirth.

The dog mummy illustrates the widespread practice of animal mummification in ancient Egypt, which actually outnumbered human mummies. These animals could be beloved pets such as cats or dogs, or food offerings like ducks and fish, believed to sustain the deceased in the afterlife. The stone scarab on display served as a magical object to assist the deceased during the judgment of the afterlife.

The exhibition also includes restoration footage, showing how conservators preserve and maintain these priceless artifacts. Marco Lombardi, representative of the Italian Economic, Trade, and Cultural Promotion Office, emphasized that in today’s semiconductor-driven era, the survival of artifacts over a thousand years is a precious testament to human heritage.

Hsu Yi-chun, Deputy Minister of Culture, praised the collaboration between the National Museum of History and the Florence Archaeological Museum as a demonstration of Taiwan’s openness and international cultural connectivity. She also highlighted the museum’s self-curated exhibition 'The End That Never Ends', which explores diverse cultural interpretations of death. These collections, she noted, are not mere objects but windows into humanity’s understanding of one another’s civilizations.

The 'Egyptian Mummies – Legends of Eternity' exhibition will run from June 18 to September 28 at the National Museum of History’s first and second floors. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150617

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