--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly…" description: "\"MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine, and now engaged in supplying art with an excellent..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient-egyptian_mummy-n-an-ancient-egyptian-formerly-in_2005824.jpg" --- # MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use… ![“MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine, and now engaged in supplying art with an excellent pigment. He is handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals. By means of the…” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient-egyptian_mummy-n-an-ancient-egyptian-formerly-in_2005824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient-egyptian_mummy-n-an-ancient-egyptian-formerly-in_2005824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99f/ambrose-bierce-140_ancient-egyptian_mummy-n-an-ancient-egyptian-formerly-in_2005824.jpg) > “MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine, and now engaged in supplying art with an excellent pigment. He is handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals. By means of the Mummy, mankind, it is said, Attests to the gods its respect for the dead. We plunder his tomb, be he sinner or saint, Distil him for physic and grind him for paint, Exhibit for money his poor, shrunken frame, And with levity flock to the scene of the shame. O, tell me, ye gods, for the use of my rhyme: For respecting the dead what's the limit of time? --Scopas Brune.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote mocks the exploitation of ancient mummies for profit and curiosity, highlighting moral decay in treating the dead as commodities. **In simple terms:** People disrespect the dead for profit. Key Takeaway Respect the dead, limit exploitation. Themes ethics respect for the dead commercialization cultural heritage morality Mood critical ironic skeptical Type satirical commentary When to use this quote - museum curation - art supply - pharmaceutical use - tourism - academic study Key Concepts exploitation cultural commodification human dignity Questions to Reflect On - What ethical lines should guide the use of human remains? - How do we balance cultural heritage with scientific inquiry? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize all mummy use as exploitative, ignoring respectful scientific study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient egyptian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-egyptian/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Egyptian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egyptian/) [Means Mummy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-mummy-3554204/) [Mummy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mummy/) [Mummy Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mummy-ancient-3554205/) [Mummy Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mummy-mankind-3554206/) ## Related quotes > [MUMMY, n. - an ancient Egyptian handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mummy-n-an-ancient-egyptian-handy-too-in-museums-in-gratifying-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Because of some defect in my motor skill, I can never COMPLETELY wrap \[gifts\]…If I had been an ancient Egyptian in the field of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/because-of-some-defect-in-my-motor-skill-i-can-never-completely-wrap/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I've visited the future and I've seen the Heavenly City standing upon this Earth!-Beautiful, gorgeous, incomparable, almost indescribable, the most gorgeous sight you'll ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/i-ve-visited-the-future-and-i-ve-seen-the-heavenly-city-standing-upon/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [What we require is not a formal return to tradition and religion, but a rereading, a reinterpretation, of our history that can illuminate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/what-we-require-is-not-a-formal-return-to-tradition-and-religion-but/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [I have a huge interest in ancient Egyptian times and the mummies and the kings and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-marchand/i-have-a-huge-interest-in-ancient-egyptian-times-and-the-mummies-and/) [Brad Marchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-marchand/) > [Set screamed something in Ancient Egyptian. I was fairly sure it wasn’t a compliment. “I will rend your limbs from their sockets!” he shouted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/set-screamed-something-in-ancient-egyptian-i-was-fairly-sure-it-wasn/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Christianity was neither original nor unique, but that the roots of much of the Judeo/ Christian tradition lay in the prevailing Kamite (ancient Egyptian)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-massey/christianity-was-neither-original-nor-unique-but-that-the-roots-of/) [Gerald Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-massey/) > [Itjtawy was ancient Egypt's capital for over four hundred years, at a period of time called the Middle Kingdom about four thousand years ago.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-parcak/itjtawy-was-ancient-egypt-s-capital-for-over-four-hundred-years-at-a/) [Sarah Parcak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-parcak/) > [The style of ancient Egyptian art is transcendently clear, something 8-year-olds can recognize in an instant. 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Also called--" I \[Sadie\] stifled a laugh.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-raised-an-eyebrow-you-claim-not-to-know-me-of-course-i-m-thoth/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Even if these stories are 3,000 years old, there's still so much about the characters, about the dilemmas, about their understanding of the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/even-if-these-stories-are-3-000-years-old-there-s-still-so-much-about/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Ancient Egyptian women had rights under the law. They could own land. Many were literate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/ancient-egyptian-women-had-rights-under-the-law-they-could-own-land/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [A contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhenaton/a-contented-mind-is-a-hidden-treasure-and-trouble-findeth-it-not/) [Akhenaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhenaton/) > [“Anubis is associated with the mummification and protection of the dead for their journeys through Denver International Airport to the afterlife. He is usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moles/anubis-is-associated-with-the-mummification-and-protection-of-the/) [Stephen Moles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moles/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Ancient egyptian quotes > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [In many traditions, hawks are sacred: Apollo's messengers for the Greeks, sun symbols for the ancient Egyptians and, in the case of the Lakota…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnside/in-many-traditions-hawks-are-sacred-apollo-s-messengers-for-the/) [John Burnside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnside/) > [“Save for the ancient Egyptians, he found, virtually no one kept cats as pets until the latter part of the 1700s. The first people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcauliffe/save-for-the-ancient-egyptians-he-found-virtually-no-one-kept-cats-as/) [Kathleen McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcauliffe/) > [I've visited the future and I've seen the Heavenly City standing upon this Earth!-Beautiful, gorgeous, incomparable, almost indescribable, the most gorgeous sight you'll ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berg/i-ve-visited-the-future-and-i-ve-seen-the-heavenly-city-standing-upon/) [David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berg/) > [“Even gods decay. Like, in 1890 somebody sold off thousands of mummified Ancient Egyptian sacred cats - \_for fertilizer\_. Get the point? 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It went on for thousands of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gates/ancient-egyptian-culture-was-so-enduring-it-went-on-for-thousands-of/) [Josh Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gates/) > [“The term Greek philosophy, to begin with is a misnomer, for there is no such philosophy in existence. The ancient Egyptians had developed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-g-m-james/the-term-greek-philosophy-to-begin-with-is-a-misnomer-for-there-is-no/) [George G.M. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-g-m-james/) [Browse all 91 Ancient egyptian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-egyptian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "MUMMY, n. An ancient Egyptian, formerly in universal use among modern civilized nations as medicine, and now engaged in supplying art with an excellent pigment. He is handy, too, in museums in gratifying the vulgar curiosity that serves to distinguish man from the lower animals. By means of the Mummy, mankind, it is said, Attests to the gods its respect for the dead. We plunder his tomb, be he sinner or saint, Distil him for physic and grind him for paint, Exhibit for money his poor, shrunken frame, And with levity flock to the scene of the shame. 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