Online Program
Online Lecture: Ancient Peruvian Mummification & Modern Ceremonial Worship
Program No. 24522RJ
Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, at 11 a.m. (ET)/ 8 a.m. (PT), for a free one-hour lecture and Q&A about mummies and the modern worship of human remains in the Peruvian culture.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
At a Glance
“It looked like he had died that very day, even though his death had occurred more than eighty years earlier.” Those are the words used by one Spaniard to describe seeing a mummified emperor. Join Oscar Oviedo Velasco, a native Peruvian and specialist in the archeology and history of Peru, this Halloween season to learn about mummification. He'll share why this practice was not only a way of preserving bodies, but was of the utmost importance to Peruvians in assuring eternal life. Find out why the Inca culture kept the bodies of deceased emperors in the Temple of the Sun until the Catholic Church declared this worship practice pagan. And discover the Peruvian rituals used today to invoke the spirits of those who have departed and why human remains are occasionally used in their ceremonies.
General Notes
Your online lecture will take place live over the course of 1-2 hours. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly. This live online experience uses Zoom Webinar, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. You will receive a confirmation email when you enroll, and a reminder email one week and one day before, as well as the morning of the event with a link and instructions on how to tune in. You will not be pictured on screen during the lecture, but you will have the opportunity to ask the instructor live questions using the Q&A box. Unless otherwise noted, all those who enroll in this program receive access to the live event as well as a recording of the lecture that you can watch any time within the two weeks following the live event.
Participant Reviews
Sort By:
This was a fascinating lecture. I learned so much. I cannot say enough good things about Oscar. I've attended other lectures led by him and he is great. Always so organized and informational. Great lecture!
— Review left November 10, 2024
Wow, this was an excellent, informative lecture. I so enjoyed hearing about this. I have put Peru on my wishlist now.
— Review left November 4, 2024
This was a fascinating program. I had no knowledge of this topic so I learned so much! I found the textiles beautiful, the preservation process intriguing and Oscar was an excellent teacher.
— Review left October 30, 2024
.
— Review left October 29, 2024
Peruvian mummification, a small area of expertise, suddenly became front and center of topics I want to know more about.
— Review left October 29, 2024
First time attendee--presenter was wonderful--signed up for the next one.
— Review left October 29, 2024
Speaker exhibited deep knowledge of subject and he grew up in the area. Particularly liked his asides, "When I was a boy I climbed / explored / went into this place and here's how it was different then." He showed deep respect for the remains of the ancestors, their burial wrappings, grave sites, and the issue of exhibiting these things in museums. Gave insight into the differences between Catholic saints and folk saints in lives of the locals today. Speaker wasted no time on tangents; very focused on the assigned topic. Excellent presenter and excellent slides and photos.
— Review left October 29, 2024
Answers so many questions about how some of our own practices in dealing with the dead and with honoring our ancestors came to be. While this focuses on South America, there are many similarities elsewhere in the world. This is a very accessible program, not too academic, but also not too touristy!
— Review left November 3, 2022
