Linen wrapping. Expensive resins. Sarcophagi. Preserving for eternity – or until someone raids their tomb. It’s a brand-new Spooktober episode with not one but two guests: Dr. Salima Ikram is a professor of Egyptology and expert on mummification of both people and animals, and is joined by veteran guest from the Egyptology episode, professor and author Dr. Kara Cooney. The two chat about mummification techniques, how food studies lead into the pyramids, controversy over the word “mummy,” whiffing the dead, socioeconomic factors in mummification, animal mummies, lingering mysteries, field work, a house mouse, and more. Next week in Part 2 we’ll dive into more ethics of collections, human sacrifice, the people who ate mummified remains, paint colors, coffin engravings and the meaning of “magic.”
Visit Dr. Cooney’s website) and follow her on Instagram), X), YouTube), and Facebook)
Get Kara’s latest book, Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches), and browse her other books on Amazon) or Bookshop.org)
Subscribe to Kara’s Substack Ancient/Now)
Visit Dr. Ikram’s website) and follow her on Facebook)
Get Salima’s latest book, Let a Cow-Skin Be Brought: Armour, Chariots and Other Leather Remains in Tutankhamun’s Tomb), and browse her other books on Amazon) or Bookshop.org)
Donations went to the Yellowhammer Fund) and Doctors Without Borders)
More episode sources and links)
Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes)
Other episodes you may enjoy: Egyptology (ANCIENT EGYPT)), Taphology (GRAVESITES)), Desairology (MORTUARY MAKE-UP)), Thanatology (DEATH & DYING)), Ambystomology (AXOLOTLS … AND LIMB REGROWTH?)), Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT)), Spooktober episodes of the past)
Sponsors of Ologies)
Transcripts and bleeped episodes)
Become a patron of Ologies) for as little as a buck a month
OlogiesMerch.com) has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!
Follow @Ologies on Instagram) and X)
Follow @AlieWard on Instagram) and X)
Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions) and Jacob Chaffee
Managing Director: Susan Hale
Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth
Transcripts by Aveline Malek
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer)
Theme song by Nick Thorburn
