Mythology/Folklore

Egyptian, American

Associated Holidays

Halloween

Country 

Egypt, United States

Key Points / Halloween Connection

- Inclusion into American Halloween folklore likely stems from their popular in Universal Monster Movies

Brief Bio

The history of mummies spans across different cultures and eras, with the earliest naturally preserved bodies appearing around 7020 BC in the Atacama Desert. Egyptians developed intentional mummification around 3500 BC, evolving from early natural dehydration in the desert, to a complex ritual lasting about 70 days that preserved bodies for the afterlife. Other cultures, such as the Chinchorro of South America (starting around 5000 BC), also created their own forms of mummification using different methods.