mummes used as fuel?

[i'vegottaask]

I heard that mummies were so plentiful that they were imported to Europe to be used as firewood. Is this a myth or does anyone know where I could find more information on this. Thank you. Brenda

[shaneystar2]

In the early 19th century, they were almost always those brought back as souvenirs from wealthy tourists' travels in Egypt. With 'mummy unwrapping parties' all the rage, otherwise sanctimonious Victorians felt no qualms about desecrating pre-Christian bodies and even sent specially-printed invitation cards: 'Lord Londesborough at Home: A Mummy from Thebes to be unrolled at half-past Two'. Even less fortunate were those mummies exported to the US for use in the papermaking industry or even, as Mark Twain reported, to be burnt as railroad fuel.
The Egyptians burnt them too as fuel for trains.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians /mummies_01.shtml

[makemesmile]

Blimey Brenda, I assumed your question was a wind up!
How amazing!

[heathfield]

Classical painters also used a colour called 'Mummy Brown'. How did they make it? You've guessed it!