Lecture
LeidenGlobal Dialogues - Egyptian Mummified Remains in Museums
- Date
- Thursday 26 February 2026
- Time
- Address
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
Rapenburg 28
2311 TV Leiden
This year LeidenGlobal starts with a new public series: The LeidenGlobal Dialogues. Drawing on the rich knowledge of our partner organisations, the Dialogues explore enduring global themes that shape our world, beyond the headlines of the day. Each edition features two researchers introducing the context of a chosen topic, followed by an interactive exchange of ideas and an open Q&A with the audience. On February 26th we pilot our first edition:
Egyptian Mummified Remains in Museums: Rethinking terminologies and modes of display
Mummified Ancient Egyptian human remains are some of the most popular displays in museums around the world, capturing the imagination in science, education, and popular media. At the same time, displaying such human remains is socially, ethically, and politically contentious, raising questions about how to engage visitors of all ages through exhibitions that challenge as well as educate. This discussion asks: how might we change the way we discuss and exhibit collections of Ancient Egyptian human remains? Is it possible to better represent the humanity of the dead?
In this edition of the LeidenGlobal Dialogues Pansee Abou ElAtta (NINO Visiting Research Fellow) and Daniel Soliman (Curator collections Egypt and Nubia at Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) reflect on these questions. Through short presentations and an open dialogue with each other and the audience, the speakers will explore how museums have historically collected, classified, and displayed human remains. The open dialogue with the audience will be moderated by Timo Epping (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden).
Central to the discussion is the question of how museological practices, often rooted in colonial contexts, have shaped particular ideas about humanity, scientific knowledge, and cultural hierarchy. What responsibilities do museums have today in addressing these legacies? And how might alternative, more ethical and inclusive approaches to care, interpretation, and restitution be imagined?
The LeidenGlobal Dialogues is a cooperation of LeidenGlobal and The National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) and is part of the Thursday evening programme at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. This pilot edition was created in collaboration with Netherlands Institute for the Near East.