Mummy Research Center

26/07/2026

A fascinating TED-Ed explainer on one of the strangest chapters in the history of medicine, colonialism, and the early European fascination with ancient Egypt.

A single misunderstanding in the translation of the word "mumia" helped fuel a centuries-long belief that ancient Egyptian mummies possessed extraordinary medicinal powers. The result? Thousands of mummies were ground into powder, traded across Europe, prescribed by physicians, and even consumed as medicine. It's a remarkable - and rather disturbing - example of how a linguistic misunderstanding can reshape history.

🎥 Well worth watching:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1390438629614797

So how did this happen?

The story begins with the Arabic word "mūmiyā", derived from Persian, which originally referred to "natural bitumen (asphalt)" - a dark, resinous substance prized in medieval medicine as a universal remedy. When Arab travelers encountered ancient Egyptian mummies, they noticed their dark, resin-coated appearance and assumed the bodies contained this valuable medicinal material. The preserved corpses themselves gradually became known as mūmiyā.

When this knowledge reached medieval Europe, an even greater misunderstanding occurred. Europeans began using the Latin word mumia not only for bitumen but also for Egyptian mummies. As natural bitumen became scarce, demand shifted to the mummies themselves. Apothecaries sold powdered mummy as a cure for everything from headaches and internal bleeding to epilepsy, while wealthy patients willingly consumed it.

The trade became so profitable that genuine ancient mummies eventually ran short. Merchants began embalming recently deceased bodies and selling them as authentic Egyptian mummies. Even after Egypt attempted to restrict exports, the market continued through forgeries and counterfeit "mumia."

The bizarre legacy did not end with medicine. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, artists even used ground-up mummies to produce the rich brown pigment known as "mmmy brown".

It is one of history's most extraordinary examples of how a mistranslation - and the authority of medical tradition - can lead to centuries of unintended consequences.

17/07/2026

Do you want to unwrap Tutankhamun's mummy?

These stories appear in the November 2022 issue of National Geographic magazine.

NGM Staff
Graphics: Alberto Lucas López, Lucas Petrin
Development: Alice Fang
Text: Patricia Healy, Eve Conant
Art By Rocío Espín.
Sources: After Taa.1.4.1-16 held at The Griffith Institute, University Of Oxford; Salima Ikram, American University In Cairo.

Over seven days, archaeologists carefully unfurled the pharaoh’s ancient linens—and found more than 100 jewels, amulets, and symbols.

13/06/2026

We are delighted to share this post about Dr. Wojtek Ejsmond’s visit to Chicago, where he spoke about his fieldwork at Gebelein.

Dr. Wojtek Ejsmond is the Scientific Director of the Mummy Research Center, and his work combines modern mummy studies, archaeology, and Egyptology with the protection of ancient Egyptian heritage.

12/06/2026

We are delighted to announce that the 14th International Congress of Egyptologists will take place from 18 to 23 July 2027 in Paris.

Paris is a founding place of Egyptology: it was here, in 1822, that Champollion announced he had deciphered hieroglyphs. The French capital remains one of the world’s leading centres for Egyptology. The discipline is taught at several prestigious institutions, the remarkable collections of Egyptian antiquities in its museums attract visitors from all over the world, and research in this field is flourishing.

This Paris edition will bring together scholars, students and enthusiasts for rich and fascinating discussions.

Further information will soon be available on this page and on the event’s website: https://ice14.sciencesconf.org/.

À bientôt ! 🇫🇷🥖🐸

27/05/2026

The 20th anniversary edition of the annual “Poles on the Nile”
Wydział Archeologii Uniwersytet Warszawski
Centrum Archeologii Śródziemnomorskiej UW
Muzeum Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego

➡️ 28 papers presented in English on the results of the latest research

➡️Guest lecture ,Monday, 9 June 2026, 5:00 pm - Pierre Tallet (Director IFAO): "The Excavations of Khufu’s Harbor at Wadi el-Jarf (Red Sea, Gulf of Suez), 2011–2026”

➡️ conference programme:


To receive the Zoom streaming link, participants should register via the conference website:

23/05/2026

Representatives of the Mummy Research Center had the distinct pleasure of welcoming His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosova in Poland, Drilon S. Gashi, for a special guided visit through the Gallery of Ancient Art at the National Museum in Warsaw.

During the meeting, CEO Marzena Ożarek-Szilke and CAO Marcin Jaworski introduced the Ambassador to the remarkable history of Polish archaeological excavations across the ancient world, as well as to the unique collections of ancient art preserved in Warsaw.

The visit was not only an opportunity to share knowledge and passion for antiquity, but also an important step in strengthening cultural relations and mutual understanding between Poland and Kosova. We strongly believe that cultural heritage and scientific cooperation create lasting bridges between nations and communities.

The Mummy Research Center remains deeply committed to promoting the achievements of Polish archaeology and the international legacy of Polish researchers whose work continues to shape global understanding of the ancient world. Polish scientists and archaeologists serve not only as researchers, but also as true civilian ambassadors of Polish science, culture, and intellectual heritage around the world.

We sincerely thank His Excellency for this inspiring visit and meaningful exchange.

Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie
Uniwersytet Warszawski

20/05/2026

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is with great excitement that we announce the upcoming lecture, Ancient Egypt from the Perspective of Ordinary People, by Dr. Wojciech Ejsmond, Director of the Gebelein Archaeological Project, Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, Polish Academy of Sciences. The lecture will stream via the Zoom platform on Thursday, June 11th, at 5:00 PM CT. Dr. Ejsmond will discuss the ongoing fieldwork at Gebelein.

LECTURE DETAILS
This talk presents the results of the Gebelein Archaeological Project, focusing on everyday life in ancient Egypt from the perspective of provincial communities rather than elites. The Gebelein micro-region preserves an exceptionally long and diverse archaeological record, spanning from the Paleolithic to the Medieval period and encompassing nearly all major types of sites known from the Nile Valley. Despite its importance, Gebelein has remained understudied, with many excavations unpublished and large areas never systematically surveyed. By reassessing earlier research, studying archival materials, and analyzing material culture within its broader context, the project sheds new light on the social and cultural history of ordinary inhabitants of ancient Egypt.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dr Wojciech Ejsmond is an archaeologist specializing in ancient Egypt, a graduate of the University of Warsaw and an assistant professor at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. He is directing an archaeological mission at Gebelein in southern Egypt since 2013, exploring various aspects of the provincial culture and is co-directing the Warsaw Mummy Project since 2015.

Please register via https://www.sphinxarchaeology.org/event.
You can also register directly through the attached Zoom link.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/cvD-0_whTyizHDjg-qIHWA

Image: Courtesy of the Gebelein Archaeological Project and Leydo Film.

19/05/2026

🎓 UWaga Nauka – 5th Edition of the Conference at the University of Warsaw

We are pleased to announce that representatives of the International Mummy Research Center Foundation participated in the 5th edition of the UWaga Nauka conference, organized by the Centre for Cooperation and Dialogue of the University of Warsaw. The event was held at the Faculty of Modern Languages Uniwersytet Warszawski

The conference was attended by:
🔹 Marzena Ożarek-Szilke – President of the International Fundation Mummy Research Center
🔹 Dr. Agnieszka Marcinowska – University of Warsaw and the International Fundation Mummy Research Center.

One of the particularly important topics discussed during the event was cooperation between science and the media, as well as the responsible communication of research results to the public. The presence of representatives of media outlets such as Gazeta Wyborcza and Newsweek Polska ( Newsweek ) demonstrated how important dialogue between researchers, journalists, and scientific institutions is. The media very often serve as a bridge between academia and society, which is why reliability, clear communication, and mutual understanding are crucial today.

An important element of the conference was also the presence of NASK — an institution involved, among other activities, in counteracting disinformation. At a time when false information, oversimplifications, and pseudoscientific narratives spread extremely quickly, responsible science communication is becoming increasingly significant.

As the Mummy Research Center, we have long sought to show that science should not remain confined solely to laboratories, publications, and conference rooms. Research on mummies, human remains, anthropology, medicine, and cultural heritage requires not only interdisciplinary cooperation, but also the ability to communicate it in a way that is understandable, ethical, and responsible.

Science communication is now one of the foundations of modern research activity. It builds public trust in science, helps distinguish knowledge from disinformation, inspires young people to pursue scientific paths, and shows that behind every discovery there are people, questions, methods, and responsibility. For our Foundation, this is particularly important — we want to speak about research on human beings with respect, sensitivity, and awareness of its cultural and social significance.

We are glad that representatives of the Mummy Research Center could participate in this event and join the conversation on how to communicate science in today’s world effectively, reliably, and engagingly.

We would like to thank the organizers for this inspiring meeting and for the opportunity to participate in this exceptional initiative.