Mummy

A mummy is a corpse whose skin and flesh have been preserved by deliberate or accidental exposure to chemicals, extreme cold or dryness, or airlessness.

Related Topics:
Corpse - Skin - Flesh

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The best-known mummies are those that have been deliberately embalmed with the specific purpose of preservation, particularly those in ancient Egypt. Egyptians believed the body was home to a person's Ka which was essential in one's afterlife. In Egypt, the bodies were covered in natron to speed up the process of dehydration, and to prevent decomposition.

Related Topics:
Embalmed - Ancient Egypt - Ka - Afterlife - Natron - Dehydration

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In China, preserved corpses have been recovered from submerged cypress coffins packed with medicinal herbs.

Related Topics:
China - Cypress

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Mummies formed as a result of naturally occurring environmental conditions, such as extreme cold (Ötzi the Iceman), acid (Tollund Man) or desiccating dryness have been found all over the world. Some of the best-preserved mummies formed under natural conditions date from the Inca period in Peru.

Related Topics:
Ötzi the Iceman - Tollund Man - Inca - Peru

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