Unwrapping a Strange Cure: Why Did People Historically Consume Ground-Up Egyptian Mummies as Medicine?

Imagine walking into an apothecary centuries ago and purchasing not herbs or tonics, but powdered human remains – specifically, those of ancient Egyptians. It sounds like something from a macabre fantasy, yet for hundreds of years, consuming ground-up mummies, known as "mumia," was a disturbingly real medical practice in Europe and the Middle East. Why did this bizarre trend occur? This post delves into the historical misunderstandings and beliefs that led people to seek healing from the ancient dead.

What Was "Mumia"? A Case of Mistaken Identity

The root of this practice lies in a significant linguistic and material misunderstanding.

• The Original "Mumia": The story starts not with mummies, but with bitumen, a naturally occurring asphalt or pitch found oozing from the earth in regions like the Dead Sea. The Persian word for this substance was mūmiyā.
• Bitumen's Medicinal Reputation: Ancient physicians, including figures like Dioscorides and Galen, believed natural bitumen possessed potent medicinal properties. It was prescribed for ailments ranging from bruises and fractures to coughs and internal disorders. This genuine belief in bitumen's efficacy set the stage for later confusion.

From Pitch to People: The Great Mummy Mix-Up

So how did desiccated human bodies become conflated with natural tar?

When Europeans encountered Egyptian mummies, particularly during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, they observed the dark, resinous, blackened state of the preserved bodies and wrappings. This appearance reminded them strongly of the valuable medicinal bitumen, mūmiyā.

Driven by the existing demand for bitumen-based medicine and possibly facilitated by translations that didn't distinguish clearly between the natural substance and the materials used in mummification, a crucial error occurred. Europeans began to believe that the preserved Egyptian bodies were the source of, or at least contained, the potent medicinal mūmiyā they sought. Historical accounts suggest this belief gained traction around the 12th century.

Why Mummies Became Medicine

Once this connection was mistakenly made, several factors fueled the consumption of actual mummies:

• Substitution: Genuine natural bitumen could be scarce or expensive. Mummies, unfortunately, became a readily available (though gruesome) substitute believed to possess the same, if not enhanced, healing powers.
• Belief in Ancient Potency: The sheer age and remarkable preservation of the mummies may have contributed to the belief in their power. Some likely subscribed to a form of sympathetic magic – the idea that consuming something well-preserved could impart longevity or cure decay within one's own body.
• A Perceived Cure-All: Following the reputation of bitumen, mummy powder was prescribed for an astonishing array of conditions. Historical texts list its use for:
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Bruising and blood clotting (based on bitumen's traditional use)
  • Stomach ailments
  • Respiratory problems
  • Epilepsy
  • General pain relief

Demand became so high that a grim trade flourished, leading not only to the plundering of ancient Egyptian tombs but also, according to some accounts, the fraudulent creation of fake "mummies" from recently deceased individuals to meet market needs.

The Decline of Mummy Medicine

This practice persisted for centuries, well into the 1700s and even lingering into the 19th century. Its decline wasn't sudden but resulted from converging factors:

• Growing Skepticism: The Enlightenment brought increased emphasis on scientific reasoning and observation, challenging long-held, unsubstantiated medical beliefs.
• Awareness of Fraud: Recognition grew that much of the "mumia" on the market was fake, diminishing trust in the remedy.
• Ethical Concerns: A gradual shift in attitudes led to greater discomfort with the idea of consuming human remains and desecrating ancient graves.
• Improved Medical Knowledge: Advances in medicine provided more effective and less macabre treatments.

Conclusion: A Lesson from History

The historical consumption of Egyptian mummies as medicine serves as a fascinating, if unsettling, example of how medical practices can arise from misunderstandings, ancient beliefs, and commercial opportunism. It began with a genuine belief in the healing properties of natural bitumen, mūmiyā, which was then mistakenly transferred to the blackened, preserved bodies found in Egyptian tombs. For centuries, this led to the grim trade and consumption of human remains, prescribed for nearly every imaginable ailment. Thankfully, scientific progress and evolving ethical considerations eventually consigned this strange "cure" to the annals of bizarre medical history, reminding us of the crucial importance of evidence-based understanding in medicine.