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Happy October! Today I'm celebrating my favorite month by going down the list of my top 20 favorite mummies! These include individuals, groups, and types; just as well, they're chosen for any number of reasons including aesthetics and backstories! I'm not picky!
Warnings! There will be pictures of human remains. I'm trying to refrain from posting pictures that are very disturbing to some people. If you want to unfollow me until tomorrow, that's cool! I understand not wanting to see mummies on your TL.
(And these are non-Egyptian mummies. I could easily make a list of my top 20 Egyptian mummies no problem. I just wanted to give other mummies a chance!)
20. Incorruptibles. (Pictured: Saint Bernadette Soubirous, d. 1879.)
Not ranked very high because some (such as St. Bernadette) were preserved by applications of wax. However, a lot of these are amazingly well-preserved anyway, usually owing to the purity of air in cathedrals!
Not ranked very high because some (such as St. Bernadette) were preserved by applications of wax. However, a lot of these are amazingly well-preserved anyway, usually owing to the purity of air in cathedrals!
19. Elmer McCurdy (d. 1911)
Poor Elmer. He was a bandit killed in a police shoot-out, and his mummy ended up traveling through sideshows. He traveled for so long, people forgot he was a mummy, and he ended up being used as a prop in a funhouse. He was buried for good in 1977.
Poor Elmer. He was a bandit killed in a police shoot-out, and his mummy ended up traveling through sideshows. He traveled for so long, people forgot he was a mummy, and he ended up being used as a prop in a funhouse. He was buried for good in 1977.
18. Grauballe Man (3rd c. BC)
A bog body found in Jutland, Denmark. Grauballe Man's throat is visibly slit, although whether it was murder or he was a sacrifice is unknown. He was so well-preserved that researchers were able to take his fingerprints!
A bog body found in Jutland, Denmark. Grauballe Man's throat is visibly slit, although whether it was murder or he was a sacrifice is unknown. He was so well-preserved that researchers were able to take his fingerprints!
17. Chinchorro Mummies (~5050 BCE onward)
Some of the oldest mummies in the world! They were found in Chile, and the techniques used to preserve them ranged from using natural dry air, treating individual body parts, applying coats of mud, and using bandages.
Some of the oldest mummies in the world! They were found in Chile, and the techniques used to preserve them ranged from using natural dry air, treating individual body parts, applying coats of mud, and using bandages.
16. Lindow Man / Lindow II / Pete Marsh (~1c. CE)
Found in an English peat bog in 1984. Like Grauballe Man, Lindow Man's death was extremely violent. He was strangled, beaten, and had his throat cut. His discovery led to a renewed interest in the study of bog bodies!
Found in an English peat bog in 1984. Like Grauballe Man, Lindow Man's death was extremely violent. He was strangled, beaten, and had his throat cut. His discovery led to a renewed interest in the study of bog bodies!
15. Old Croghan Man / Seanfhear Chruacháin (Iron Age)
A high status individual found in County Offaly, Ireland. Old Croghan Man met a VERY violent death, and was dismembered. There's a lot of debate on if his death was ritualistic or a murder.
A high status individual found in County Offaly, Ireland. Old Croghan Man met a VERY violent death, and was dismembered. There's a lot of debate on if his death was ritualistic or a murder.
14. Children of Llullaillco (~1500 CE)
Three high status Inca children found on a dormant volcano between Argentina and Chile. Their deaths were part of a ritual; they'd been well-fed and dressed in elaborate clothing. They're considered some of the best-preserved mummies ever.
Three high status Inca children found on a dormant volcano between Argentina and Chile. Their deaths were part of a ritual; they'd been well-fed and dressed in elaborate clothing. They're considered some of the best-preserved mummies ever.
13. Guanajuato Mummies (1833 CE)
Oof. This one's a little controversial because of the choice to display them (worth reading up on). Victims of a cholera epidemic in Mexico, an unmet burial tax led to them being disinterred. Definitely a lesson in ethics.
Oof. This one's a little controversial because of the choice to display them (worth reading up on). Victims of a cholera epidemic in Mexico, an unmet burial tax led to them being disinterred. Definitely a lesson in ethics.
12. Jeremy Bentham (d. 1832)
Ohh, Jeremy. He was a (very cool) famous English philosopher who insisted on this mode of preservation, a.k.a the auto-icon. It made his actual head look pretty gnarly, so a fake head was used until the actual one went on display in 2017.
Ohh, Jeremy. He was a (very cool) famous English philosopher who insisted on this mode of preservation, a.k.a the auto-icon. It made his actual head look pretty gnarly, so a fake head was used until the actual one went on display in 2017.
11. Sokushinbutsu
Buddhist mummies from multiple countries and spanning across time periods. The method is pretty much the same for all: entering a state of deep meditation until death. Self-poisoning and starvation was one method to achieve this.
Buddhist mummies from multiple countries and spanning across time periods. The method is pretty much the same for all: entering a state of deep meditation until death. Self-poisoning and starvation was one method to achieve this.
Now we're going into the top 10! Woohoo!!
10. Cherchen Man / Ur-David (~1000 BCE)
Part of the Tarim mummy group found in the Xinjiang region of northwest China. He was naturally preserved by the ambient environment. Notable for his clothing, preservation of features, and the ochre paint pattern on his head.
Part of the Tarim mummy group found in the Xinjiang region of northwest China. He was naturally preserved by the ambient environment. Notable for his clothing, preservation of features, and the ochre paint pattern on his head.
9. Ötzi / The Iceman (~3400-3100 BCE)
Found in 1991 in the ice of the Ötztal Alps, Italy. Notable for the preservation of pretty much everything, including evidence of his murder. Ötzi's probably one of the most famous mummies ever found.
Found in 1991 in the ice of the Ötztal Alps, Italy. Notable for the preservation of pretty much everything, including evidence of his murder. Ötzi's probably one of the most famous mummies ever found.
8. Xin Zhui / Lady Dai / 辛追 (d. 169 BCE)
An incredibly well-preserved Chinese noble. Xin Zhui led a luxurious lifestyle, and her mummy told researchers all about it. She probably died of heart disease. The extravagance of her tomb gave a peek into life in the Han dynasty.
An incredibly well-preserved Chinese noble. Xin Zhui led a luxurious lifestyle, and her mummy told researchers all about it. She probably died of heart disease. The extravagance of her tomb gave a peek into life in the Han dynasty.
7. Siberian Ice Maiden / Princess of Ukok (~5th c. BCE)
The lady with the badass tattoo! Part of the Pazyryk culture, her clothing and burial suggested she was a respected individual. She also suffered from chronic pain and may have died of cancer.
The lady with the badass tattoo! Part of the Pazyryk culture, her clothing and burial suggested she was a respected individual. She also suffered from chronic pain and may have died of cancer.
6. Qilakitsoq Mummies (~1475 CE)
Definitely worth looking into if you're interested in Inuit culture! The remains of eight family members entombed in the Nuussuaq Peninsula of Greenland. They were incredibly preserved due to the cold, dry air.
Definitely worth looking into if you're interested in Inuit culture! The remains of eight family members entombed in the Nuussuaq Peninsula of Greenland. They were incredibly preserved due to the cold, dry air.
5. Tollund Man (4th c. BCE)
Also a bog body from Jutland! The face that graced many mummy books! The rope he was hung with is still around his neck, although his death may have been ritualistic due to the fetal position of his body. Preserved down to his day-old beard stubble.
Also a bog body from Jutland! The face that graced many mummy books! The rope he was hung with is still around his neck, although his death may have been ritualistic due to the fetal position of his body. Preserved down to his day-old beard stubble.
4. Rosalia Lombardo / Sleeping Beauty (d. 1920 CE)
The beautifully well-preserved mummy of a little girl in Palermo, Sicily. She was one of the last to be interred in the Capuchin Catacombs. Her burial site is now the place of a kind of pilgrimage.
The beautifully well-preserved mummy of a little girl in Palermo, Sicily. She was one of the last to be interred in the Capuchin Catacombs. Her burial site is now the place of a kind of pilgrimage.
3. Bocksten Man (~14th c. CE)
A bog body probably better known for the incredible state of his medieval clothing (and his HAIR!!) rather than his actual body. His full suit of clothing was preserved almost perfectly. Bocksten Man was more than likely murdered.
A bog body probably better known for the incredible state of his medieval clothing (and his HAIR!!) rather than his actual body. His full suit of clothing was preserved almost perfectly. Bocksten Man was more than likely murdered.
2. The Beauty of Xiaohe (~1900 BCE)
A mummy of high status as evidenced by her burial goods and clothing (a white felt and fur hat and boots), the Beauty of Xiaohe was found with around 200 other mummies of a similar culture to the Tarim group.
A mummy of high status as evidenced by her burial goods and clothing (a white felt and fur hat and boots), the Beauty of Xiaohe was found with around 200 other mummies of a similar culture to the Tarim group.
Oh golly gee willikers what will number one be? Place your bets now while I go refill my coffee.
1. Beechey Island Mummies / Franklin Expedition Mummies (d. 1846)
OF COURSE! The three handsome gents who launched an academic movement! All died of a combination of TB and pneumonia, exacerbated by all sorts of conditions. Found in the Canadian Arctic, and loved by many.
OF COURSE! The three handsome gents who launched an academic movement! All died of a combination of TB and pneumonia, exacerbated by all sorts of conditions. Found in the Canadian Arctic, and loved by many.
