Fascinating Mummies (11 February - 27 May 2012) The National
Museum of Scotland showcases ancient Egyptian treasures dating
as far as 4000BC in this exhibition bringing together two of the
world's great collections. Just around the corner from our two
Grassmarket hotels, the Apex International and Apex City Hotel,
this is the first major exhibition in the museum's new purpose-
built hall. The exhibition is split into two parts. The first
explores the ancient rituals surrounding death and the
afterlife. The Egyptians preserved the bodies of their dead
because they believed they had to remain in tact to be re-born
into the afterlife. This process of preservation is called
mummification, and the embalmed bodies are known as mummies.
They were buried in tombs with great treasures and possessions
it was thought they would need in the afterlife. Some tombs were
so well hidden from intruders and grave robbers that the
contents remained untouched and perfectly preserved for many
thousands of years. The exhibition feat