The Met's Mummies: Where to See Ancient Egyptian Remains in NYC
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) on Fifth Avenue houses one of the world's finest Egyptian collections—including multiple human and animal mummies on permanent display.
Star Mummies at The Met
- Merneptah (1213–1203 BCE): 19th Dynasty pharaoh, son of Ramesses II. Discovered Valley of Kings (1898). Displayed in Gallery 132.
- Djehutihotep (c. 1500 BCE): Nomarch of Hare Nome. Exceptionally preserved; shows elite mummification. Gallery 112.
- Child mummies — several, with cartonnage masks
- Animal mummies: Cats, ibises, crocodiles, falcons — votive offerings
The Collection Context
- 26,000+ objects — Predynastic to Roman (4000 BCE–400 CE)
- Galleries 100–138 (Lila Acheson Wallace Galleries)
- Temple of Dendur (Gallery 131) — Roman-era Nubian temple, gifted by Egypt
Other NYC Spots With Mummies
| Institution | Highlights |
|---|
| Brooklyn Museum | Mummy of Hor, cartonnage, animal mummies |
| American Museum of Natural History | Mummies in "Mummies" hall (special exhibit, check schedule) |
| Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) | Rotating exhibitions, sometimes mummy-related |
Visit Tips
- Met: Pay-what-you-wish (NY/NJ/CT residents); $30 general
- Audio guide includes Egyptian tour
- Photography allowed (no flash)
- Gallery 132 (Merneptah) is climate-controlled — cool, dim
3,000 years dead. 10 blocks from Central Park. The Met makes time travel routine.
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