Human remains

Since 2015, the Museo Egizio has been reflecting on how to display human remains, and in 2019 it inaugurated a new permanent exhibition space entitled “In Search of Life.”

The gallery – located on the First Floor – explores life in ancient Egypt, with particular focus on funerary rituals, mummification, and the concept of the afterlife, through the study of human remains and their associated grave goods. All the artifacts are displayed in conservation cases, designed to protect the integrity and preservation of particularly fragile organic remains.

The installation provided an opportunity to thoroughly address the ethical implications of displaying human remains, fostering a participatory reflection that combined the perspectives of the scientific community with those of the public, gathered through questionnaires and interviews.

Over time, specific criteria and guidelines for display have been defined, along with dedicated signage that warns visitors in advance of the presence of human remains along the route, allowing them to choose whether or not to approach.

Here are the Museo Egizio maps where the current display of human remains is indicated with the dedicated symbol:

For information and requests concerning the care and display of human remains, please write to comitatoetico@museoegizio.it

To consult the collection click HERE: