PET MUMMIES UNWRAPPED
It’s not just people who were mummified in ancient Egypt – animals were too. But why was this done?
WORDSGRAHAM BARLOW
When we think about mummies, we tend to think of wealthy Egyptian pharaohs who were buried in grand tombs along with their gold. But it wasn’t just humans who were mummified, as millions of animals were preserved too.
In ancient Egypt, some creatures were worshipped as cult animals and were thought to be manifestations of the gods. They were idolised while alive, and mummified with the same degree of respect as royalty. Other mummified animals were beloved family pets, and there were also ‘victual mummies’ – those that were simply meant to be a tasty snack in the afterlife.