September 2, 2024, 3:54 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
In the past, TRAVELBOOK has often reported on mummies that have become tourist attractions due to their well-preserved condition or for other reasons. But is it actually okay to exhibit dead people and consciously look at them as a visitor? Dr. Stefanie Menke, research associate at the Chair of Museology at the University of Würzburg, gives her opinion on this sensitive topic in an interview with TRAVELBOOK.
TRAVELBOOK: Exhibitions with mummies are often well attended. What do you think fascinates people so much about mummies on display?
Dr. Stefanie Menke: “People have a fundamental interest in other people and everything human. A mummy is a (more or less) preserved, i.e., non-decayed, dead body that confronts us on the one hand with a very specific past human life and on the other with death in general. This direct confrontation with death has become rare in today’s society. In the past, people died at home, and death was a visible part of life. Today, people usually die in hospitals or nursing homes. The fascination could, therefore, also stem from an unconscious need to come to terms with death and reassure oneself that one is still alive.”
There are different contexts in which mummies were created. What are they?
“There are mummies that have been deliberately preserved and those that have been preserved by chance. The intention behind the preservation and the context in which it happened are crucial. If a corpse was preserved by accident, it was definitely not originally intended to be viewed by the living. Therefore, in my opinion, these unintentionally preserved mummies often raise the question of whether it is ethically justifiable to show them in public.”
“The presentation should be respectful and reverent”
What ethical considerations play a role in the exhibition of mummies?
“There are a whole host of starting points. One fundamental question is whether it is generally okay to exhibit dead people because every deceased person has the right to a proper burial in accordance with their respective religious beliefs and cultural customs. It also becomes problematic when it comes to human remains from the colonial era. This is because these were usually acquired under circumstances we now regard as unjust. They should, therefore, be returned to the societies of origin if these so wish. In general, when exhibiting mummies or other human remains, a context should always be provided. Moreover, the presentation should be respectful and reverent. The German Museums Association has published guidelines emphasizing that human remains should only be displayed if there is a clear didactic benefit and the presentation is dignified.”
Nevertheless, even accidentally preserved mummies attract visitors. What do you think?
“If a corpse is preserved by chance, it was not originally intended to be looked at, as already mentioned. On the other hand, people have a natural interest in such phenomena. I used to find it horrible, but now I see that well-preserved dead bodies generate a fascination.”
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“Loud talking and flash photography are inappropriate
In your opinion, how should visitors deal with such exhibitions?
“It should be a matter of course to behave respectfully, just like in a church. I find talking loudly and taking photos, especially with a flash, inappropriate, for example. You should be aware that these were once living people and ask yourself how you would want to be treated if you were lying there as a corpse.”
Is there a difference in perception between historical mummies and modern specimens such as those in the “Body Worlds” exhibitions?
“Yes, historical mummies are so far removed from the reality of our own lives that they affect us less emotionally. Taxidermy in the ‘BodyWorlds‘ exhibitions, on the other hand, is much closer to the reality of our own lives and can therefore trigger much stronger emotions. However, the people from whom the specimens in the ‘Body Worlds’ come – in contrast to those who lie before us as historical mummies – agreed during their lifetime that their bodies would be exhibited after death, which is an important difference in ethical terms.”
What would you advise museums and exhibition organizers working with mummies?
“Museums should always consider whether the exhibition of human remains is really necessary and whether there are other ways to convey the relevant content. If an exhibition takes place, it should be designed with dignity and provide visitors with contextual knowledge. This can help promote understanding and appreciation of the significance of the mummies and ensure that they are treated with respect.”