The Myths vs Reality of Mummification

Dan Snow talks with an Egyptologist and curator of Egypt and Sudan at the Manchester Museum about what ancient Egyptian mummification actually was, separating the historical burial practice from Hollywood horror, folklore, and popular culture. The conversation covers the elaborate rituals of Egyptian burial and the ways mummification has been misunderstood. It also traces later fascination with mummies, from Greek and Roman curiosity to Victorian mummy unwrapping parties. The episode examines why mummified remains became objects of spectacle and how modern myths distort the record.