Why did people think cannibalism was good for their health? The answer offers a glimpse into the zaniest crannies of European history, at a time when Europeans were obsessed with Egyptian mummies.
Napoleon’s conquest of Egypt at the end of the 18th century sparked a European interest in ancient Egypt. This ‘Egyptomania’ has gripped Europe ever since, and is still visible today. It was gold, pyramids, and above all, mummies, which fascinated not just the people of Europe, but societies across the globe.