The idea of the “mummy’s curse” is one of the most recognizable images of Ancient Egypt in popular media. Shaped by colonial interpretations of Egyptian burial practices and beliefs, it often portrays them as sinister forms of dark magic. These misconceptions stem from “Egyptomania,” a Western fascination with Egypt filtered through exoticism and fantasy. Popular stories frequently center white European or American explorers and archaeologists while marginalizing Egyptians themselves. Such portrayals have created lasting stereotypes that continue to shape perceptions of Egypt, its culture, and its people today.

The Off the Shelf display in Langson Library invites readers to question these assumptions. Were mummies truly evil, and what role did magic play in ancient Egyptian belief? By pairing accessible fiction with historically grounded scholarship, it aims to bridge the gap between myth and reality.

The "The Myth of the Mummy’s Curse" will be on display through August 2026. It was curated by art history student Sofia Babiera (she/her) through a spring 2026 internship supervised by Visual Arts Librarian Jenna Dufour and funded by the UC Irvine School of Humanities' Steckler Family Endowment in Art History.

About Off the Shelf

The Off the Shelf display in the Langson Library highlights the UC Irvine Libaries' collections while fostering collaboration between students, faculty, and librarians. Curated by the Libraries' staff and libraries as well as UC Irvine students, the books on display are available for loan or checkout with a current UC Irvine ID.