Scholars living in medieval Europe knew only as much about maize as written in the Bible, and what was told in the writings of ancient geographers such as Herodotus and Siculus of Diadorus. Still, rumors about mummies and their wonderful treasures were widespread. By the 16th century, Europeans were even more interested in Egyptian mummies, not because of their history but because they could be used as medicine. Since at least AD 1000, humans have eaten and burned mummies, crushing them into powder.

Crusaders returning to their homes in the 12th century brought news of the healing powers of these crushed pieces of wax. Desperate to find a cure for diseases, people forgot that they were actually becoming cannibals.

Mummy smuggling began to spread. In the 1580s, a merchant named John Sanderson brought 270 kilos of waxed meat to sell for English money. There was such a demand for Egyptian mummies that in 1549 he organized a special expedition to Egypt. Joining forces with a group of doctors from Italy, the priest enters several tombs near Saqqara to find the mummy. Catherine's father-in-law, King Francis I of France, also carried powdered mummy powder in a pouch in case he was injured while hunting.

The word mummy also appears in many medical texts of that period, including the writings of Francis Bacon. It is also one of the materials used by the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth. King II. Charles collected the dust from the mummies and rubbed it on his skin, thinking that the power of the ancient pharaohs would pass to him.

In 1694, French pharmacist Pierre Pomet made a recommendation regarding the purchase of good quality mummy powder:

“Try to get a black mummy that has no bones or dust, and has the pleasant smell of something burnt other than tar or resin.”

In the 17th century, European traders made the mummies trade a growing industry. When they couldn't find real mummies, they were buying fake mummies from recently executed criminals, from Arab businessmen who started making mummies from those who died of diseases. Fake mummies filled the bodies with pitch, wrapped them in cloth, and left them to dry in the sun. And when they were built to resemble real mummies, vendors would sell these crumpled bodies to believing Europeans.

AN INTERESTING NOTE

Mummies were usually used in powder form. But mummified bodies were also boiled to make a delicious drink.

MIRACLE MEDICINE

Born in AD 980, physician, philosopher, and scientist Avicenna is considered the father of modern medicine. He even recommended crushed mummy powder as a remedy for the following complaints:

• Bone fractures
• Cough
• Stomach ailments
• Poisoning
• Liver problems
• drunkenness
• Fear of heights

How about a recipe for mummified food and drink?

A pinch of sugar, a spoonful of honey, a pinch of mummy powder… Pound!

 

Source: Jim Pipe- Ancient Egypt, Mummies, Magic and Myths