Mummy’s the word, as they say.
At least that’s the mantra of “Mummies of the World: The Exhibition,” which recently opened at the Orlando Science Center. Its displays include dozens of mummified bodies, both human and animal, dating back several millennia and coming from all across the globe.
According to the Naples Daily News, these mummies range from the elaborate, iconic sarcophagi of Ancient Egypt to bodies that were mummified accidentally, their bodies preserved by the weather or the soil in which they were buried.
To be considered a mummy, each body must have retained some of its soft tissue, such as the skin or muscles. The process of mummification delays the natural rate of decay, cutting the body off from moisture and oxygen to keep it preserved.
In addition to relics from a long-distant past, the exhibit also showcases modern technologies, showing visitors how CT scans can examine mummies without unwrapping them or using other invasive methods, which could do permanent damage to the specimen. The CT scanning process helps present-day scientists determine factors such as a mummy’s age, likely occupation, cause of death, last meal eaten and much more.
Across the exhibit, unique, fascinating details can be seen on the mummies. Many are tattooed — one mummy, for instance, has a tattoo of the coat of arms for Pope Pius II. Not much has changed since those days; approximately one in five U.S. adults has one or more tattoos today.
A mummified cat also stands out as one of the exhibit’s more memorable items. The display explains that animals were mummified as food for the dead or to honor certain gods and goddesses. Shrunken heads, charms and disembodied hands and feet round out the collection of various oddities.
Access “Mummies of the World” is included in Orlando Science Center admission. The exhibit will be open to the public daily through Nov. 29.
