Ramesses II's 'mummy makeover'
The 3,000-year-old mummy of Ramesses II, an Egyptian pharaoh, was found to have a fungal infection. So in 1976, it was flown to Paris for a once-in-a-deathtime makeover.
In 1976, the 3,000-year-old mummy of Ramesses II was found to have a fungal infection.
The embalmed body of the Egyptian pharaoh was flown from Cairo to Paris for a once-in-a-deathtime makeover.
It received a royal welcome at the airport, and was guarded throughout its restoration, which took place at the Musee de lβHomme.
Anne-Marie Goden worked as a receptionist at the museum. She tells Gill Kearsley the extraordinary story of the restoration.
Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.
Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the βIndian Titanicβ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemyβs Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and GΓΆrel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence theyβve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of Americaβs occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.
(Photo: The mummy of Ramesses II being examined in Paris. Credit: Tony Comiti/Sygma via Getty Images)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Tue 3 Sep 2024 07:50GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Tue 3 Sep 2024 11:50GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Tue 3 Sep 2024 17:50GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Tue 3 Sep 2024 21:50GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Wed 4 Sep 2024 02:50GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, East Asia, South Asia & West and Central Africa
- Sun 27 Oct 2024 17:00GMTΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
Podcast
-
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there