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A mysterious exhibition about mummies is coming to Paris at the end of the year!

undefined undefined 7 août 2025 undefined 18h00

The Editor

Momie de nourrisson égyptien © MNHN – J.-C. Domenech

On November 19th, the new exhibition at the Musée de l’Homme will open, an exceptional retrospective dedicated to the fascinating world of mummies. From the Andes to ancient Egypt, a fabulous journey awaits you to discover all the mysteries of this ancient practice.

In life, there are subjects that captivate us, surrounded by an impenetrable mystery. Supernatural events. The disappearance of Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès. Human folly. Or even mummies. And it is to these fascinating figures that the Musée de l'Homme has decided to dedicate its latest exhibition-event for the year 2025. Dive into a mystical world that takes us to the four corners of the globe, as we try to understand this funerary rite, which is sometimes a source of terror, but also of fascination.


Far from myths and tales

Like vampires, werewolves, or witches, today, mummies are often linked to the image of fear. Cartoons, movies, books,

they often embody a supernatural creature, returned from the dead to do us harm. However, unlike the other characters on this list, their existence is proven, and poses no danger to humans.

While it’s quite rare for people to have ever encountered a lycan in the midst of transformation, the rite of mummification has indeed existed on Earth for millennia. This is the rich story that the Musée de l’Homme will present at the end of the year, stepping far away from certain popular misconceptions that have been mistakenly passed down. It’s a tale that goes well beyond the ancient Egypt, to which we often too easily associate mummies.


A Unique Time-Space Journey

Throughout its rooms, the museum will showcase different mummification rituals from various parts of the world and different eras. From the Auvergne countryside, where a mummy dating back to the late Middle Ages was discovered in 1756 to the ...Older embalmed bodies found in what is now Chile and Peru, dating back over 9000 years, the institution presents us with a comprehensive overview of this practice.

momie-expo-musee-homme-egypte-le-bonbon-parisMummy seller, Egypt, around 1870 © Félix Bonfils / Wikimedia CCO

To support its purpose, the museum will showcase 5 mummified bodies preserved in its archives, along with historical objects, including funerary furniture, to highlight the different rites and techniques that exist. Illustrations, videos, and archival photos will complement this fascinating exhibition.


Mummies
Musée de l’Homme
17, place du Trocadéro-et-du-11-Novembre – 16th
From November 19, 2025, to May 25, 2026
More info