Victorians were so utterly obsessed with the mystical allure of ancient Egypt that they regularly hosted elaborate mummy unwrapping parties in their drawing rooms as the ultimate high-society social flex.

A closer look

Victorians were so utterly obsessed with the mystical allure of ancient Egypt that they regularly hosted elaborate mummy unwrapping parties in their drawing rooms as the ultimate high-society social flex. Wealthy aristocrats would purchase a stolen corpse from an artifact smuggler, invite all their friends over for champagne, and slowly peel off centuries-old linen bandages to see if there were any magical amulets hidden inside the chest cavity. This deeply morbid practice completely destroyed countless priceless historical artifacts, but it really sets an incredibly high bar for hosting a memorable Friday night get-together when your centerpiece is a desiccated royal cadaver instead of a standard boring charcuterie board