Ancient Greek tourists were particularly intrigued by the seemingly strange practices of mummification, and it is thanks to one Greek traveler, Herodotus, that we have an account of the techniques described to him.

There has probably always been a morbid fascination in wanting to know what happens to our bodies after death. Mummification reveals that more than just bones survive and makes it possible to see what ancient Egyptians looked like. Faces in particular are often well preserved.

It's no surprise that mummies were eagerly sought after by nineteenth century collectors: They quickly became crowd-pulling exhibits in museums, and they remain so today. A unique collection of mummies - the bodies of some of the greatest kings and queens of the New Kingdom, is now housed in the Cairo Museum. Over fifty mummies survived thanks to the efforts of priests who moved them into two communal tombs after their individual tombs had been robbed. These "cache" tombs, re-discovered in 1881 and 1898 included the mummies of Sequenenre, Queen Tetisheri, Ahmose, Amenhotep I and II, Queen Ahmose-Nefertari, Thutmose II, III and IV, Seti I and II, Ramesses II, III, IV, V and VI, Merneptah, Siptah plus many others which are not unidentified

Over the last century, the ethics of displaying ancient royalty has been hotly debated, and there have been times when they have been removed from public display.

Today they rest in a dim chamber in specially designed cases. Visitors are requested (often unsuccessfully) to keep silent out of respect. Many visitors are simply fascinated looking at ancient dead bodies; they have little or no idea whom they are looking at and what these men and women may have achieved in their lifetimes.

Morbid curiosity apart, these particular mummies deserve some special respect, and even a little knowledge of Egyptian history may alter the way we look at them.

On a recent visit to Cairo, the mummy room accommodated a steady stream of visitors who clearly knew nothing about the mummies or who they were actually looking at. (The only exception may be the mummy of Ramesses II. Every tourist in Egypt gets to hear alot about Ramesses II).

Then a small group of Japanese tourists entered the room. They stood quietly before each mummy and bowed before taking a closer look. It was an interesting and strangely moving experience that reminds one that the mummies were once powerful and influential people to be treated with awe and respect.

As for me, I didn't bow to the mummies. But I did find myself greeting each mummy by mentally reciting their names and titles. That was my mark of respect.