Out of Egypt (2009–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Flesh and Bone - full transcript

Cooney: HUMAN REMAINS...

...PRESERVED, DISPLAYED...

WORSHIPED IN GRAND TEMPLES...

PRIVATE HOMES...

AND DARKENED CRYPTS.

THESE ARE RELICS,

SACRED FLESH AND BONE.

I'M KARA COONEY, AN EGYPTOLOGIST
ON A WORLDWIDE QUEST.

I LOOK AT HUMAN BEHAVIOR,

BOTH PAST AND PRESENT,

THROUGH THE LENS
OF ANCIENT EGYPT.



AND THE MORE I TRAVEL THE WORLD,
THE MORE SIMILARITIES I SEE.

EXPLORING WHY WE ARE WHO WE ARE

OFTEN LEADS ME OUT OF EGYPT.

FOR MUCH OF HUMAN HISTORY,

PEOPLE HAVE BELIEVED THAT
THE DEAD CONTAIN GREAT POWER.

ANCIENT EGYPT WAS A CULTURE

OBSESSED WITH DEATH
AND THE AFTERLIFE.

BUT THERE'S AN ELEMENT
THAT GOES BEYOND THIS

AND RECURS IN BELIEFS
AND CIVILIZATIONS

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THAT ELEMENT IS THE RELIC.

NEARLY EVERY CULTURE
ATTRIBUTES SPECIAL MEANING

TO CERTAIN DEAD BODIES.

SOME CULTURES
ACTUALLY PRESERVE THESE CORPSES,



KEEPING THEM IN THE WORLD
OF THE LIVING.

WHY DO PEOPLE CLING TO THE
REMAINS OF THEIR HALLOWED DEAD?

WHY ARE SOME BODIES
OR BODY PARTS

RETAINED AND WORSHIPED
FOR GENERATIONS?

TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE
OF THESE RELICS,

WE CAN START IN A CITY
WHERE I SPEND A LOT OF TIME...

THE MODERN CAPITAL OF EGYPT,
CAIRO.

TODAY CAIRO IS OVER 90% MUSLIM,

BUT THERE WAS A TIME
OVER 1,000 YEARS AGO

WHEN IT WAS LARGELY CHRISTIAN.

THIS IS AN AREA
CALLED COPTIC CAIRO.

THESE NARROW LANES AND ORNATE
CHURCHES ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT

OF WHAT WAS ONCE A SPRAWLING
CHRISTIAN URBAN CENTER.

ONE OF THE EARLIEST CHRISTIAN
CHURCHES IN THE AREA, ABU SERGA,

HOUSES A FAIRLY TYPICAL
CHRISTIAN RELIC.

IN POPULAR CULTURE,
MOST PEOPLE THINK OF RELICS

AS ANY ANCIENT
OR PRECIOUS OBJECT.

BUT STRICTLY SPEAKING,

A RELIC IS THE PRESERVED FLESH
AND BONE OF A SACRED BEING.

IN THIS CASE, THE SACRED BEING
IS SAINT BASHNOONA.

THIS VELVET CASING ACTUALLY
HOLDS HIS BODILY REMAINS.

LIKE MANY CHRISTIAN SAINTS,
BASHNOONA WAS A MARTYR.

HE'S THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
BURNED ALIVE BY MUSLIMS

IN THE YEAR 1164.

EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS BELIEVE

THAT CONTACT
WITH WHAT'S LEFT OF HIS BODY

PROVIDES HEALING, RENEWED FAITH,
AND GUIDANCE.

WHY IS SO MUCH POWER ATTRIBUTED
TO CERTAIN BODILY REMAINS?

AND WHEN DID THIS PRACTICE
ORIGINATE?

THE STORY OF RELICS IN EGYPT

BEGINS MUCH FURTHER BACK
IN TIME.

LONG BEFORE CHRISTIANITY,
THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS

USED PRESERVED DEAD BODIES TO
CREATE CONDUITS TO THEIR GODS,

BUT THESE RELICS
WEREN'T HUMAN REMAINS.

JUST 20 MILES OUTSIDE OF CAIRO
IS AN ANCIENT BURIAL COMPLEX

WITH A NETWORK
OF UNDERGROUND TUNNELS...

THE SACRED ANIMAL NECROPOLIS.

THE TUNNELS HERE ONCE HOUSED

OVER HALF A MILLION
ANIMAL MUMMIES...

THE PRESERVED FLESH AND BONE

OF IBIS BIRDS, FALCONS,
AND BABOONS.

I'M AN EGYPTOLOGIST, BUT I'M NOT
A SPECIALIST IN ANIMAL MUMMIES,

SO I'VE INVITED MY GOOD FRIEND,
DR. SELIMA IKRAM,

TO HELP ME EXPLORE
THE NECROPOLIS.

SHE SPENT MOST
OF HER ACADEMIC LIFE

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY AND HOW

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS PRESERVED
THE CORPSES OF ANIMALS.

WE'VE ASKED THE AUTHORITIES TO
OPEN UP THE BABOON NECROPOLIS.

IT'S BEEN SEALED OFF
TO PROTECT IT FROM LOOTERS.

BECAUSE NO ONE HAS SET FOOT
INSIDE THESE TUNNELS

SINCE THE EGYPT EXPLORATION
SOCIETY DUG HERE

OVER 15 YEARS AGO,

THIS ISN'T JUST EXCITING FOR ME,
IT'S A PRIVILEGE.

AND EVEN THOUGH TOMBS LIKE THIS
ARE UNBELIEVABLY HOT AND DIRTY,

ANY EGYPTOLOGIST
WOULD JUMP AT A CHANCE

TO GO INTO A DARK HOLE
IN THE GROUND,

ESPECIALLY ONE
FILLED WITH MUMMIES.

OH, THIS IS GREAT!

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PRIESTS

BRED, KILLED, AND MUMMIFIED
THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS

AND SOLD THEM TO WORSHIPERS

WHO DEDICATED THE MUMMIES
TO THEIR GODS.

THE ANIMALS WERE THEN STORED
ON THESE LITTLE SHELVES.

LOOK AT THIS.
OKAY, THIS IS VERY COOL.

DO YOU SEE THIS, KARA?

IS THIS THE SKIN OF THE BABOON?

NO, NO. WHAT IS THAT?

THIS IS ACTUALLY ALL PLASTER,

BECAUSE THEY WOULD
MUMMIFY THE BABOON

AND THEN SET HIM IN PLASTER.

EACH BABOON
IS NOT ONLY MUMMIFIED

BUT ENCASED IN A COFFIN

AND THEN PLACED
INTO ONE OF THESE NICHES.

YEAH.

SO EACH NICHE
WAS FOR A SINGLE BABOON BURIAL.

DON'T HIT YOUR HEAD.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS THE BABOON MUMMY
IN HERE?

YES, THAT'S THE BABOON MUMMY.

EACH MUMMIFIED ANIMAL

WAS CONNECTED TO THE POWER
OF A PARTICULAR GOD.

BABOONS WERE BELIEVED TO BE
INCARNATIONS OF THE GOD THOTH,

GOD OF WRITING
AND MAGICAL SPELLS.

EVERY PRESERVED CORPSE

WAS BELIEVED TO MAGICALLY ACT
FOR ITS OWNER.

AND, PRESUMABLY,

THE MORE A PILGRIM SPENT
ON AN ANIMAL MUMMY,

THE BETTER THE RETURN
HE EXPECTED ON HIS INVESTMENT.

BABOONS WEREN'T THE ONLY ANIMALS
THAT WERE MUMMIFIED, RIGHT?

NO.
WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER DIFFERENT
KIND OF ANIMALS.

YOU'VE GOT IBISES.

YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT KIND
OF FALCONS.

THERE ARE DOGS. THERE ARE CATS.

AND THERE ARE SOME PLACES

WHERE YOU EVEN HAVE
THE EGGS OF CROCODILES,

AS WELL AS THE CROCODILES
THEMSELVES.

PILGRIMS WOULD COME,
THEY WOULD BUY A MUMMY,

AND THEN THIS MUMMY WOULD BE
PUT INTO THESE CATACOMBS

TO TAKE THE PRAYER
OF THE PILGRIM

TO THE GODS FOREVER AND EVER.

IT'S A WAY OF ENCASING
THE SACRED,

BECAUSE THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVE
OF GODS.

IF YOU SEND THAT GOD OFF
TO THE NEXT WORLD,

OFF TO THE BEYOND,
WITH YOUR PRAYER,

THEN IT'S A SPEEDY, SUPER WAY

OF MAKING SURE
YOU GET WHATEVER YOU WANT.

IT'S EXPRESS MAIL.

SO, IF YOU DEFINE A RELIC
AS SOMETHING

THAT ENCASES THE SACRED
IN FLESH AND BONE...

IN FLESH AND BONE,

YOU COULDN'T DO BETTER
THAN AN ANIMAL MUMMY.

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BELIEVED
THAT THE SYSTEMATIC SLAUGHTER

OF THESE ANIMALS AND
THE PRESERVATION OF THEIR BODIES

CONNECTED THEM
TO THE POWER OF THEIR GODS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THE SACRED BODY

ISN'T AN ANIMAL BUT A HUMAN?

HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD
FROM EGYPT LIES LIMA, PERU.

LIMA WAS FOUNDED IN 1535

AS A CHRISTIAN CAPITAL
OF THE NEW WORLD.

THE SACRED ANIMAL NECROPOLIS

WOULD HAVE SEEMED LIKE
A HEATHEN PRACTICE

TO THE FOUNDERS OF THIS CITY.

FOR THEM,
RELICS COULD ONLY BE HUMANS

THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN TOUCHED
BY GOD.

THIS IS THE HOUSE OF SANTA ROSA,

WHO WAS BORN HERE IN LIMA, PERU,
IN 1586.

SHE WAS AN ASCETIC, WHICH MEANT

THAT SHE NOT ONLY DENIED HERSELF
COMFORT IN THE NAME OF GOD,

BUT SHE ACTUALLY CREATED
DISCOMFORT FOR HERSELF.

SANTA ROSA WANTED TO BE
AS CLOSE TO GOD AS POSSIBLE,

AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT SHE DID
THIS WAS THROUGH PAIN.

SHE WORE A SPIKED
CROWN OF THORNS

MADE OF METAL ON HER HEAD...

AND SHE WOULD ACTUALLY
PUT LYE ON HER FACE,

WHICH ATE AWAY AT HER FLESH.

THIS DEDICATION TO GOD
WAS SO AMAZING

THAT PEOPLE BELIEVED SHE WAS IN
DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE HEAVENS,

BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO TAKE ON
THE SUFFERINGS OF JESUS CHRIST.

SANTA ROSA BELIEVED

SHE NEEDED TO TAKE HERSELF
OUT OF THE WORLD,

AND ONE WAY OF DOING THAT
WAS BUILDING THIS HUT...

WHICH SHE LIVED IN FOR SEVERAL
YEARS, RARELY LEAVING IT.

TO ENTER THE HUT, SHE HAD
TO ACTUALLY CRAWL THROUGH

ON HER HANDS AND KNEES.

IT GAVE HER SOME HUMILITY.

AND TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER,

VISITORS SPOKE THROUGH A GRATE
IN THE WALL.

NOT LONG
AFTER SANTA ROSA'S DEATH,

THE PEOPLE OF LIMA
ACTUALLY DUG HER BODY UP.

THIS MAY SEEM STRANGE
AND MACABRE,

BUT, REALLY, IT'S A WAY OF
BRINGING HER SACRED PRESENCE

BACK INTO THE WORLD
OF THE LIVING.

HER RELICS ARE PROMINENTLY
DISPLAYED AT SANTO DOMINGO,

A NEARBY CHURCH.

ROSA'S CONTEMPORARIES BELIEVE
SHE WAS SO PURE AND HOLY

THAT THEY ENSHRINED HER HEAD
IN THIS ELABORATE ALTAR,

WEARING A CROWN OF ROSES.

CATHOLICS BELIEVE SHE WAS
TOUCHED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND THAT THIS HEAD
CONTAINS THAT SACRED POWER.

THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT
FROM THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS,

WHO BELIEVED THAT DIVINE POWER

COULD BE CONTAINED IN
THE MUMMIFIED BODY OF AN ANIMAL.

FOR CHRISTIANS, WHEN THE
HOLY SPIRIT EXISTS ON EARTH,

IT CAN ONLY TOUCH HUMAN BODIES.

WHEN SAINTS DIED,
THEY LEFT ONLY ONE BODY.

THIS PRECIOUS COMMODITY

WAS SOMETIMES FOUGHT OVER
BY WORSHIPERS,

AND THE BODIES WERE OFTEN
RIPPED APART,

SCATTERING GRUESOME,
DISEMBODIED RELICS

ALL ACROSS
THE CHRISTIAN WORLD...

A FINGER IN THIS CHURCH...

A SAINT'S HEAD IN ANOTHER.

BECAUSE OF THEIR RARITY,

THESE SACRED BODY PARTS
WERE TREASURED ITEMS.

NEXT, THE STORY OF A SAINT

WHO PAID A HORRIFIC PRICE
FOR HER FAITH...

AND A CRYPT
NEARLY BEYOND BELIEF.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S JUST BONES AND BONES
AND BONES OF EVERYBODY.

THAT'S AMAZING.

Cooney:
TODAY THE VATICAN IN ROME IS THE
CENTER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

BUT IN THE 2nd CENTURY,
MOST ROMANS WORSHIPED MANY GODS,

AND CHRISTIANITY
WAS A FORBIDDEN RELIGION.

DURING THIS TIME, ONE OF
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN SAINTS

PAID A GRUESOME PRICE
FOR HER BELIEFS.

THIS 9th-CENTURY CHURCH

HOLDS THE REMAINS
OF SAINT CECILIA...

WHOSE BODY IS ENSHRINED IN A
CRYPT BENEATH THE CENTRAL ALTAR.

SAINT CECILIA
HAS A COMPELLING STORY.

CATHOLICS TELL US
THAT IN YEAR 117,

SHE WAS KILLED BY THE ROMANS

BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO WORSHIP
IN THE EMPEROR'S CULT.

THEY ALSO SAY THAT WHEN HER TOMB
WAS OPENED IN 1599,

OVER 1,000 YEARS LATER,

HER BODY WAS FOUND TO BE
PERFECTLY PRESERVED,

OR INCORRUPT...
THE SIGN OF A SAINT.

PILGRIMS COME
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

TO BE IN SAINT CECILIA'S
PHYSICAL PRESENCE,

BECAUSE FOR THE FAITHFUL,

THE MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL
OF HER BODY

CONFIRMS THE VERY EXISTENCE
OF GOD.

BENEATH THE ALTAR OF THE CHURCH,

AN ANCIENT ROMAN HOUSE
STILL SURVIVES...

A HOUSE THAT MANY CATHOLICS
BELIEVE WAS CECILIA'S.

THIS IS WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ROME.

IF YOU GO UNDERNEATH THE STREET
LEVEL, YOU'RE IN ANCIENT ROME.

YOU'RE WALKING ON
THE ANCIENT STREETS,

AND YOU HAVE ANCIENT BUILDINGS
ON EITHER SIDE.

CECILIA BELONGED TO WHAT
THE ROMANS CONSIDERED A CULT.

SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN,
AND BECAUSE SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN,

SHE WOULDN'T GIVE ANY GIFTS
TO THE EMPEROR.

BECAUSE OF THAT, SHE HAD TO DIE.

SO SOLDIERS CAME TO HER HOME
AND LOCKED HER INTO A CALDARIUM,

WHICH IS A REALLY HOT
ROMAN SAUNA.

THEY EXPECTED THAT
THE INTENSE HEAT AND LACK OF AIR

WOULD EVENTUALLY SUFFOCATE HER.

BUT CECILIA REFUSED TO DIE.

WHEN THE SOLDIERS RETURNED THREE
DAYS LATER TO COLLECT HER BODY,

THEY WERE SURPRISED TO FIND HER
STILL ALIVE.

SO THEY DRAGGED HER
FROM THE CALDARIUM

AND FINISHED HER OFF WITH
THREE HACKING BLOWS TO THE NECK.

IN THIS STATUE DEPICTING THE WAY
THAT THEY FOUND HER,

THEY DIDN'T TRY TO HIDE
HOW GRUESOME HER EXECUTION WAS.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
THREE CUT MARKS IN HER NECK

AND THE BLOOD COMING OUT.

CHRISTIANITY EVENTUALLY BECAME
THE DOMINANT RELIGION IN ROME.

AND UNLIKE SAINT CECILIA,

BELIEVERS DIDN'T HAVE TO HIDE
THEIR FAITH OR RISK PERSECUTION.

CHRISTIANITY EVOLVED AND SPLIT
INTO DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS.

ROMAN CATHOLIC WORSHIPERS
CAME TO EMBRACE NOT ONLY SAINTS,

BUT, IN THE CASE OF ONE ORDER,
THE REMAINS OF ALL THOSE

WHO HAD COMMITTED THEIR LIVES
TO DEVOTION.

THIS IS THE CHURCH

OF SANTA MARIA
IMMACOLATA CONCEZIONE IN ROME.

ABOVEGROUND,
IT SEEMS LIKE A TYPICAL

17th-CENTURY ITALIAN CHURCH.

BUT UNDERGROUND LIES
SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY.

FATHER RINALDO IS A CAPUCHIN
MONK AND CARETAKER OF THE CRYPT.

[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]

Interpreter: WE ARE IN THE
CHURCH OF THE CAPUCHIN MONKS.

ONLY CAPUCHIN MONKS
WERE BURIED HERE.

THIS IS WHY ONLY CAPUCHIN MONKS
WERE ALLOWED INSIDE.

NO OUTSIDERS.

IT'S ALWAYS MEANT TO BE CLOSED.

IT'S ALWAYS MEANT
TO BE EXCLUSIVE, YES?

OH, YES.

FATHER RINALDO
WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH

TO GRANT ME A PRIVATE TOUR
OF THE CRYPT...

A PLACE WHICH CONTAINS
THE BODIES OF THOUSANDS OF MONKS

IN AN EXTRAORDINARY DISPLAY.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S JUST BONES AND BONES
AND BONES OF EVERYBODY...

SKULLS, ARM BONES, LEG BONES.

IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE
TO EXPLAIN THE FEELING YOU GET

WHEN YOU FIRST LAY EYES
ON THE CRYPT WALLS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 3,500 MONKS
BURIED HERE.

AND SOME ARE STILL
IN THE GROUND.

AND SOME ARE IN THEIR ALCOVES,
AND SOME ARE STANDING UP.

THAT'S AMAZING.

TO THE CAPUCHIN ORDER,
THESE AREN'T EXACTLY RELICS

BUT PHYSICAL REMINDERS
OF WHAT'S TO COME.

I EXPECTED IT TO BE GRUESOME
AND CREEPY,

BUT IT TRULY IS AWE-INSPIRING.

WHAT WAS IT INTENDED TO MEAN?

THE IDEA OF THOSE WHO MADE
THIS DECORATION

IS TO MAKE A HYMN...
NOT TO DEATH BUT TO LIFE.

DEATH IS NOT AN ENEMY.
IT'S A SISTER.

SO THEY'RE SHOWING YOU

THE WONDER
AND MIRACULOUSNESS OF DEATH.

THIS IS NOT MACABRE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

EVEN THOUGH THESE REMAINS
ARE NOT STRICTLY RELICS,

THEY SERVE A SIMILAR PURPOSE.

CAPUCHIN MONKS COME DOWN
TO THE CRYPT FOR GUIDANCE.

THEIR PROXIMITY
TO THE BONES OF THE DEAD

RENEWS THEIR FAITH
IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

SO, THESE BONES...

THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A POWER
OF THEIR OWN, RIGHT?

BUT THEY'RE MEANT
TO COMMUNICATE SOMETHING?

YOUR TIME ON EARTH IS QUICK
AND BRIEF.

THEREFORE, THE MESSAGE IS TO NOT
REMAIN ATTACHED

TO THE BONES THAT ARE HERE
OR TO THIS LIFE.

DESPITE SUFFERING,

DESPITE PAIN AND DEATH...

THERE IS THE HOPE OF A LIFE

THAT DOES NOT END HERE.

COMING UP NEXT,

AN INCREDIBLE
AND VERY ANCIENT DISCOVERY

AND AN ASIAN CULTURE
WITH A POIGNANT WAY

OF REMEMBERING ITS ANCESTORS.

Cooney:
THE CITY OF JERUSALEM IS A NEXUS

FOR MANY OF THE OLDEST
CIVILIZATIONS IN THE WORLD.

HERE, BEFORE CHRISTIANITY,
ISLAM, OR JUDAISM,

PEOPLE BEGAN TO PRESERVE
AND CHERISH

THE BONES OF THEIR ANCESTORS,

CREATING SOME OF
THE VERY FIRST RELICS.

IN 2008, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

BUILDING A HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE
IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ISRAEL

CAME ACROSS
AN ASTONISHING FIND...

WHAT APPEARED TO BE
AN ARRANGEMENT

OF THREE HUMAN SKULLS
FROM A CIVILIZATION

MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLDER
THAN ANCIENT EGYPT.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS
DR. IANIR MILEVSKI

AND DR. HAMOUDI KHALAILY

WERE AMONG THE FIRST
ON THE SCENE.

THE WORKERS ARE EXPOSING THIS,

AND WHEN DID YOU KNOW
WHAT IT WAS THAT YOU HAD?

BECAUSE WE SAW THE NOSE
AND PART OF THE PLASTER...

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

AND PLASTERED SKULLS...
THESE ARE UNUSUAL, RIGHT?

IT'S A VERY UNIQUE DISCOVERY.

Cooney:
TO DATE, ONLY SEVERAL HUNDRED
PLASTERED SKULLS LIKE THESE

HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED
THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST.

THESE PARTICULAR SKULLS
DATE BACK TO 7,000 B.C.E.

PLASTERING HUMAN SKULLS
WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFICULT

AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.

THE PRACTICE INVOLVED
DIGGING UP THE DECEASED

AND SEPARATING THE SKULL
FROM THE BODY.

THEN THE FACIAL FEATURES
WOULD BE RECONSTRUCTED

BY COVERING THE SKULL
WITH PLASTER.

SOMETIMES SHELLS WOULD BE
INSERTED TO REPRESENT THE EYES.

AND, FINALLY, MANY OF THE SKULLS
WERE PAINTED TO APPEAR LIFELIKE.

THESE PLASTERED SKULLS
ARE AN EXTREMELY RARE FIND,

AND IT'S AMAZING
TO EXPERIENCE THEM IN PERSON.

AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE TREATED
THE EYES, THEY DO WATCH YOU.

I CAN FEEL THEM WATCHING ME.
IT'S KIND OF CREEPY.

WHY WOULD YOU BURY YOUR DEAD,

UNBURY THEM,
REMOVE ONLY THE HEAD,

PLASTER THE HEAD, DECORATE
THE HEAD, AND KEEP IT WITH YOU?

IN A WAY, THESE ANCIENT PEOPLE
WERE RESUSCITATING THEIR DEAD.

THESE SKULLS
WERE PROBABLY DISPLAYED

IN PEOPLE'S HOMES
OR PUBLIC SPACES,

ALLOWING THEM TO CONTINUE
THEIR ROLES AS CARETAKERS.

AND WHAT'S REALLY FASCINATING

IS THAT PLASTERED SKULLS POINT
TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF RELIC.

THEY SUGGEST SOMETHING WE CALL
"ANCESTOR WORSHIP,"

A PRACTICE OF VENERATING
YOUR ELDERS, EVEN AFTER DEATH.

OVER 4,000 MILES AWAY,

ANCESTOR WORSHIP
IS PRACTICED EVEN TO THIS DAY.

HANOI, THE CAPITAL OF VIETNAM,

A PLACE WHERE DEAD RELATIVES

ARE THE FOCUS
OF BUDDHIST CEREMONIES

PRACTICED IN MANY HOMES.

NORMALLY, THIS CEREMONY
IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR

MEANT JUST FOR
THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

BUT DONG FEIT LAY
AND HIS WIFE, TWAN,

HAVE BEEN GENEROUS ENOUGH
TO ALLOW ME TO JOIN IN.

THIS IS THE ALTAR HERE AT
THE HIGHEST PART OF THE HOUSE?

YEAH, THIS IS THE ALTAR.

AND THESE ARE THE ANCESTORS.

THESE ARE MY MOTHER.
THEN NEXT IS HER MOTHER.

MANY VIETNAMESE BELIEVE

THAT, AFTER DEATH,
THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD

CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE
THE WORLD OF THE LIVING.

AND SO NOW
WE'RE LIGHTING INCENSE.

WHEN WE ARE LIGHTING
OR BURNING THE INCENSE,

WE ACTUALLY
HAVE GIVEN THE MESSAGE

TO THE PASSED-AWAY PEOPLE.

WE BELIEVE THAT THE INCENSE
IS THE CHANNEL TO DO THAT.

SO THE SMOKE RISES.

THE ALTAR'S AT THE HIGHEST PART
OF THE HOUSE,

AND THE SMOKE RISES UP
TO THE ANCESTORS.

AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO THIS?

AND ALSO
THE NEW-YEAR FESTIVAL OCCASIONS.

PREPARING A FEAST OF
THEIR ANCESTORS' FAVORITE FOODS

IS A LARGE PART
OF ENSURING THAT THE DEAD

KEEP A POSITIVE DISPOSITION
TOWARD THE LIVING.

NORMALLY,
WE HAVE SQUARE RICE CAKE,

CHICKEN, STICKY RICE...
ALL OF THESE.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS FOOD?

THE FAMILY WILL ENJOY IT.

THE FAMILY EATS IT,
SO THEY EAT WITH THE DEAD.

YOU KNOW, THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS
DID THE SAME THING.

THEY WOULD GO TO THE TOMB,
AND THEY WOULD MAKE A BIG MEAL,

AND THEY WOULD EAT THE MEAL
WITH THE DEAD.

WE DO THE SAME THING.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING

FOR MILLENNIA,
MILLENNIA, MILLENNIA.

PEOPLE LIKE TO EAT
WITH THEIR ANCESTORS.

YEAH.

I'M AMAZED THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE
BODILY REMAINS ARE IMPORTANT,

THERE SEEMS TO BE
AN UNDERSTANDING

THAT THE SPIRITS
ARE IN THE HEAVENS, UP HIGH.

AND DESPITE THIS,

THE VIETNAMESE STILL OFFER THEIR
DEAD RELATIVES ACTUAL FOOD.

THIS IS A VERY HUMAN THING...
TO THINK OF OUR DEAD

AS PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL
ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THESE GIFTS... THESE ARE
FOR THE ANCESTORS, AS WELL?

THESE ARE ALL FOR THE ANCESTORS.

AND THIS IS MONEY.

THIS IS MONEY FOR THE AFTERLIFE?

YES.

OH, LOOK. A $100 BILL.

SO EVERYTHING THAT THE DECEASED
WOULD NEED IN LIFE,

YOU GIVE THEM IN DEATH.

NOW, HOW DO YOU GET THIS
TO THE DEAD?

HOW DO YOU GET THIS
TO THE ANCESTORS?

WE WILL BURN IT.

[ SPEAKING VIETNAMESE ]

DO YOU WANT TO GO TOGETHER
WITH US?

YEAH. YOU CAN TRY ONE.

THANK YOU.
BUT I HAVE TO OPEN IT UP.

I WANT TO PUT THE DOLLARS IN.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BURN
AMERICAN CASH.

$100 BILLS.

WHILE MODERN VIETNAMESE
ARE ENJOYING A COMFORTABLE LIFE,

THEY WANT THEIR ANCESTORS
TO BE COMFORTABLE, AS WELL.

THIS IS WHY MONEY AND
TRANSPORTATION AND CLOTHES...

ALL THE COMFORTS
OF THIS WORLD...

ARE SENT TO THE DEAD.

WE NEED MONEY IN THE AFTERLIFE.

WE NEED SHOES IN THE AFTERLIFE.

BUT THESE MATERIAL THINGS
STILL HAVE TO BE BURNED

AND TURNED INTO ASH AND SMOKE TO
REACH THE DEAD IN THE HEAVENS.

SO ALL OF THE ASH HERE
IS GOING UP.

THIS IS GOING TO THE ANCESTORS.

OH, I GET TO BURN A SHIRT.

SO THERE'S THE COLOR THERE.
THAT'S NICE.

[ SPEAKING VIETNAMESE ]

NOW, THIS MOMENT
FOR YOUR FAMILY,

IS IT SAD OR HAPPY OR BOTH?

WE FEEL HAPPY
BECAUSE THIS IS THE MOMENT

WE FEEL WE ARE CONNECTED
WITH OUR ANCESTORS.

SO, NORMALLY THE PEOPLE
FEEL VERY HAPPY.

PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES

DON'T NORMALLY RELATE TO
THE DEAD IN SUCH A PHYSICAL WAY.

TO ME,
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY...

AN AMAZING MOMENT
OF A FAMILY SENDING GIFTS

TO THEIR LOVED ONES
IN THE AFTERLIFE.

NEXT, AN ENTIRE COUNTRY
VENERATES AN EMBALMED LEADER

AND AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
THAT PERFORMS CEREMONIES

PRESIDED OVER
BY MUMMIFIED KINGS.

Cooney: IN VIETNAM, ANCESTOR
WORSHIP IS A PRIVATE AFFAIR

MEANT TO CONNECT THE LIVING
WITH DEAD LOVED ONES.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER FORM
OF ANCESTOR WORSHIP

THAT TAKES ON
MASSIVE PUBLIC PROPORTIONS...

A RELIC CONNECTED
TO AN HONORED LEADER

WHO'S ALMOST A FAMILY MEMBER
TO AN ENTIRE COUNTRY.

HO CHI MINH IS PERHAPS
THE MOST REVERED LEADER

IN THE HISTORY OF VIETNAM,

ACTING AS PRESIDENT FROM 1946
UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1969.

IN HIS WILL, HO CHI MINH
ASKED TO BE CREMATED,

BUT HIS FOLLOWERS EMBALMED
HIS BODY INSTEAD

AND PUT IT ON DISPLAY
IN THIS MAUSOLEUM.

OVER 1,000 VIETNAMESE VISIT
HO CHI MINH'S REMAINS EVERY DAY.

A FEW MILES AWAY IS A MUSEUM

DEDICATED TO HIS LIFE
AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

AND IT'S HERE
THAT I HOPE TO LEARN MORE.

AHN WET IS A TOUR GUIDE
AT THE HO CHI MINH MUSEUM.

SO, WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE COME
TO THE TOMB OF HO CHI MINH?

WHY DO THEY NEED TO VISIT HIM?

HO CHI MINH IS A FATHER
OF THE NATION OF VIETNAM.

NOW, WHY DID THEY PRESERVE
HIS BODY?

WHY DID THEY KEEP IT SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN GO AND SEE IT?

SO, HO CHI MINH IS CONSIDERED

LIKE A VERY IMPORTANT
FAMILY MEMBER,

LIKE A GRANDFATHER OR A FATHER?

HO CHI MINH'S PRESERVED CORPSE
REPRESENTS A HUMAN BELIEF

THAT GOES BEYOND THEOLOGIES
AND IDEOLOGIES.

SOME PEOPLE
NEED TO CONNECT PHYSICALLY

WITH THE ROOTS OF BELIEF
AND HOPE,

AND THIS IS WHY
SO MANY VIETNAMESE

VISIT THE BODY OF HO CHI MINH.

THEY FEEL THEY ARE NEAR
HIS REVOLUTIONARY IDEALS.

IN FACT, RELICS ARE ALL ABOUT

THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
NEEDS OF THE LIVING.

THEY USUALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE TO
DO WITH THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE

WHOSE BODIES ARE BEING USED.

THE IDEA OF USING THE BODIES OF
DEAD LEADERS TO GUIDE THE LIVING

ISN'T A NEW ONE.

IN FACT, AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD

USED THE RELICS OF DEAD KINGS
IN A SIMILAR FASHION.

I'M AT THE SITE OF CHAN CHAN
IN PERU...

THE ANCIENT IMPERIAL CAPITAL
OF THE CHIMU EMPIRE.

LIKE THE PHARAOHS OF EGYPT,

MANY KINGS IN PERU
WERE PRESERVED AS MUMMIES.

ALTHOUGH ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVEN'T
FOUND ANY ROYAL MUMMIES HERE,

WE DO HAVE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE
THAT THE CHIMU PEOPLE

PRESERVED THE BODIES
OF DEAD KINGS AT CHAN CHAN

AND THAT THESE BODIES MAY HAVE
BEEN TREATED AS SACRED OBJECTS.

IN 1995,
ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNCOVERED

A WOODEN ARCHITECTURAL MODEL

INSIDE AN ELITE BURIAL
OF THE CHIMU PERIOD.

THIS ELABORATE MODEL REPRESENTS
A ROYAL PLAZA

CLOSELY RESEMBLING
THE ONES AT CHAN CHAN,

WITH AN ENTRANCE AT ONE END

AND A RAMP AND STAGE
AT THE OTHER.

THE MODEL SHOWS WHAT IS PROBABLY
A ROYAL MUMMY ON THE PLATFORM,

AS WELL AS A PLAZA
FILLED WITH ROYAL ATTENDANTS

AND PEOPLE PRESENTING OFFERINGS.

THIS INCREDIBLE FIND PROVIDES US
WITH THE BASIS FOR OUR THEORIES

INVOLVING THIS RITUAL SPACE.

JASON TOOHEY
IS AN AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGIST

CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN PERU.

THIS ENTIRE PLAZA,

FROM THE DOORWAY ON OUR RIGHT

TO THE RAMP AND THE STAGE
AT THE OTHER END,

WHERE THE MUMMY
WOULD HAVE BEEN SEATED,

WAS A VERY ACTIVE RITUAL SPACE.

PERIODICALLY, MUMMIES
WERE TAKEN OUT AND PARADED,

AS IF THEY WERE
ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS

IN STATE CEREMONIES.

SO EVEN WHEN THE KING DIED

AND EVEN WHEN THE KING
WAS PUT IN HIS TOMB,

HE WAS STILL TAKEN OUT
PERIODICALLY

AND WAS STILL A PART
OF CEREMONIAL ACTIVITY

AT THE PALACE.

AND THE KING
WOULD BE OVER THERE,

AND THEN ALL ALONG THE SIDES

YOU WOULD HAVE MUSICIANS,
DANCERS, PEOPLE BRINGING FOOD.

EVEN HUMAN SACRIFICE.

EVEN HUMAN SACRIFICES
ARE BROUGHT TO THE DEAD KING.

YEAH, THERE'S ALSO EVIDENCE
OF THAT.

WHY DO THEY NEED THE ACTUAL
FLESH AND BONE OF THE KING

TO BE PRESENT WHEN THEY'RE
BRINGING ALL OF THESE OFFERINGS?

WELL, THE BODY OF A DEAD KING,

JUST LIKE THE BODY
OF A LIVE KING,

WOULD HAVE BEEN
A MATERIAL SYMBOL

OF NOT ONLY HIS ROYAL LINEAGE,

BUT OF KINGSHIP OF THE EMPIRE.

DO YOU CONSIDER THIS A RELIC?

YEAH,
BECAUSE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN

THE BODY OF AN IMPORTANT PERSON
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMBUED

WITH A GREAT AMOUNT
OF ALMOST MAGICAL IMPORTANCE.

COMING UP, THE MAGICAL POWERS
ATTRIBUTED TO SOME RELICS...

IN MEDIEVAL TIMES
AND EVEN TO THIS DAY.

Cooney:
THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN CAIRO

CONTAINS HUNDREDS OF MUMMIES,

MOST OF THEM
STILL IN THEIR COFFINS.

LIKE THE CHIMU IN PERU AND
OTHER NEW WORLD CIVILIZATIONS,

THE EGYPTIANS
ALSO REVERE THEIR DEAD.

HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT IN ANCIENT EGYPT,

HUMAN MUMMIES
WEREN'T CONSIDERED RELICS.

CORPSES WERE PREPARED
FOR THE AFTERLIFE

AND THEN HIDDEN AWAY IN TOMBS.

THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO BE USED

AS OBJECTS
FOR THE LIVING TO WORSHIP.

BUT THE EUROPEANS
WHO LATER RAIDED THESE TOMBS

FOUND THE BODIES
SO WELL PRESERVED

THAT THEY ATTRIBUTED
MAGICAL POWER TO THEM.

THAT'S WHY TRADERS BROUGHT
THOUSANDS OF MUMMIES

BACK TO EUROPE.

A STRANGE NEW USE FOR
ANCIENT BODIES WAS DEVELOPING.

THESE DRY,
WELL-PRESERVED CORPSES

WERE USED FOR A BIZARRE
NEW PURPOSE.

BEGINNING IN THE 12th CENTURY,

IN PHARMACIES ALL OVER EUROPE,

PEOPLE BEGAN TO PURCHASE
A POPULAR MEDICINE CALLED MUMIA.

MUMIA WAS
A GRAYISH-BROWN POWDER,

BASICALLY THE GROUND-UP FLESH
AND BONE OF EGYPTIAN MUMMIES.

THE POWDER WAS OFTEN MIXED
WITH LIQUID

AND SOLD AS A MAGICAL TONIC.

SO EVEN THOUGH EGYPTIAN MUMMIES

WERE NEVER INTENDED
TO BE WORSHIPED BY THE LIVING,

THEY BECAME HIGHLY VALUED

FOR THEIR PERCEIVED
MAGICAL PROPERTIES,

JUST LIKE MANY CHRISTIAN
AND PAGAN RELICS.

CONSIDERING THE DEAD
TO BE MAGICAL BEINGS

MAY SEEM LIKE PART
OF THE ANCIENT WORLD,

BUT THERE ARE PLACES TODAY
WHERE HUMAN REMAINS

ARE STILL THOUGHT
TO HOLD SUPERNATURAL POWERS.

THE SONORA MARKET IN MEXICO CITY
IS HUGE.

IT COVERS
AT LEAST FOUR CITY BLOCKS.

AND HERE YOU CAN FIND
ANY CONCEIVABLE MAGICAL CURE.

THAT'S A SNAKE.

YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDS
OF MAGICAL REMEDIES.

LAMPAZOS.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS.

I'M ALSO INTRIGUED TO FIND
THERE ARE WITCHES FOR HIRE.

PAYING CUSTOMERS COME IN DROVES
TO GET MAGICAL FIXES

FOR EVERYTHING FROM UNEMPLOYMENT
TO CHEATING HUSBANDS.

JOSE CORTEZ

IS SAID TO BE ABLE TO CHANNEL
THE POWERS OF THE DEAD.

THE FIRST THING I NOTICE

IS A HUMAN FEMUR BONE
IN THE CORNER,

WHICH THIS SHAMAN USES
TO SUMMON A DEAD SPIRIT

HE BELIEVES
HAS THE POWER TO HEAL.

I'VE ASKED HIM TO PERFORM
A RITUAL CLEANSING ON ME.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Interpreter:
WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN
THE BAD SPIRITS OUT OF YOU,

BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL,

BECAUSE YOU HAVE PROBLEMS
IN YOUR STOMACH.

WE'RE CLEANING YOUR HANDS

SO THAT EVERYTHING
YOU TOUCH MULTIPLIES.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE HEADACHES.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

[ INHALES SHARPLY ]

NOW WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR
YOUR CHAKRAS.

HERBS, CIGAR SMOKE,
AND ALCOHOL ARE USED

TO CLEAR A PATHWAY FOR DRIVING
THE BAD SPIRITS AWAY.

THE PRESENCE OF THE DEAD
IS THOUGHT TO BE ESSENTIAL

TO PROTECT BOTH THE SHAMAN
AND MYSELF

FROM THESE AWAKENED SPIRITS.

[ SPITTING ]

I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT.

TURN AROUND.

NOW YOU'RE READY TO ASK
THE DEAD MAN.

TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE RITUAL WORKED

AND THAT
I'M COMPLETELY CLEANSED,

SHAMAN JOSE
MUST CONSULT THE DEAD.

IS SHE OKAY?

TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD,

HE TOSSES A HANDFUL OF SHELLS IN
THE PRESENCE OF THE HUMAN BONE.

THE WAY THAT THE SHELLS LAND
GIVES US THE DEAD MAN'S ANSWER.

MAY WE PRESENT HER TO THE DEAD?

THE ANSWER IS YES.

IS SHE PURIFIED?

[ SPITTING ]

WE ARE FINISHED.

FROM NOW ON, YOU WILL BE
PROTECTED WHEREVER YOU GO.

[ CHUCKLES ] THANK YOU.

GRACIAS. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

SO, I WAS JUST CLEANSED,
AND IT WAS VERY EYE-OPENING

BECAUSE HE HAD TO HAVE THE FEMUR

OF A DEAD HUMAN BEING
IN THE CORNER

THAT GIVE HIM THE POWER
TO BE ABLE TO CLEANSE ME.

SO THAT'S THE SOURCE
OF THIS SHAMAN'S POWER.

HE TOLD ME
THAT I HAVE HEADACHES.

I DO HAVE HEADACHES.

HE TOLD ME
THAT I HAVE STOMACH ISSUES.

THAT'S TRUE, TOO.

AND HE CLEANSED ME.

HE SPIT ON ME.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.

[ SPITTING ]

SO, ALL IN ALL, IT WAS
A VERY EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE

OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DEAD
HUMAN FLESH AND MAGICAL POWER.

NEXT, A RELIC SO SACRED,

SO POWERFUL
THAT NOT JUST A TEMPLE,

BUT A COUNTRY'S WHOLE IDENTITY
REVOLVES AROUND IT.

Cooney: THIS IS THE TOWN
OF KANDY IN SRI LANKA.

BEHIND ME IS A TEMPLE

THAT HOUSES A RELIC
THAT'S SO POWERFUL

THAT MUCH OF THE COUNTRY'S
HISTORY IS WRITTEN AROUND IT.

[ MAN CHANTING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Cooney: THE TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH

MAINTAINS AND PROTECTS
SRI LANKA'S HOLIEST OBJECT...

A TOOTH SUPPOSEDLY BELONGING
TO THE LORD BUDDHA HIMSELF

WHO DIED 2,500 YEARS AGO.

DR. MEGUS CUMBURA

IS A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF PERADENIYA IN SRI LANKA.

THIS PLACE
SEEMS VERY SACRED TO ME.

WHY IS THIS TOOTH CONSIDERED
TO BE SO SACRED AND SO POWERFUL?

I CAN HEAR THE RAIN
ALL AROUND ME IN KANDY,

SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S MAKING RAIN.

SO THIS RELIC...

THIS TOOTH OF THE BUDDHA
INSIDE OF THIS SHRINE...

WAS CONSIDERED SO POWERFUL

THAT WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT
OVER IT.

PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO CLAIM
THIS RELIC.

BECAUSE IF THE KING
HAS THIS RELIC,

THEN HE HAS THE POWER

OF PROSPERITY AND FERTILITY
IN HIS LAND?

NOW, THE ONLY COMPARISON I HAVE,

AND THIS IS A WEAK COMPARISON,

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT.

WHOEVER HAS THIS TOOTH

HAS POLITICAL POWER
OVER THE WHOLE LAND.

AND THEIR ARMY CAN'T FAIL.

THEY'LL NEVER LACK FOR WATER.

THEY'LL ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH FOOD.

IS THAT A CORRECT COMPARISON?

YEAH, SURELY.

SOME BUDDHISTS SPEND YEARS
SAVING ENOUGH MONEY

TO AFFORD A PILGRIMAGE
TO THE TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH.

THEY COME
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

JUST TO BE CLOSE TO THE RELIC.

WHY DID YOU COME TO THIS TEMPLE?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU
TO BE HERE?

Interpreter:
THE TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH

IS THE BIRTHPLACE
OF SRI LANKAN CULTURE.

I AM A CHRISTIAN,

BUT I VISIT THIS PLACE
TO WORSHIP.

SO YOU'RE NOT BUDDHIST,
BUT YOU COME HERE

BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE
IT HAS GREAT POWERS.

YES, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME
BLESSINGS THAT CAN BE RECEIVED

REGARDLESS OF ONE'S RELIGION.

AND YOU BRING
YOUR DAUGHTER?
YEAH.

THIS IS A GIFT
TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.

THIS IMPORTANCE
SOMETIMES GOES BEYOND

MERELY HONORING THE RELIC.

SOME BELIEVERS COME IN SEARCH
OF TRUTH OR COMFORT

IN THE MIDST
OF DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO, WHY ARE YOU HERE AT
THE TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH TODAY?

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Interpreter: TO HAVE A SERVICE
FOR MY DECEASED SON

AND TO GET INFORMATION
ABOUT WHERE MY OTHER SON IS.

THERE'S BEEN NO NEWS ABOUT HIM
FOR 13 DAYS.

AND WHY DOES COMING
TO A PLACE LIKE THIS HELP YOU?

I BELIEVE THE TOOTH WILL GIVE ME
SOME INFORMATION

ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS.

AND DO YOU LIVE HERE,

OR DID YOU COME HERE
ESPECIALLY FOR THIS?

NO, WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY
AND TRAVELED MANY MILES

TO GET HERE.

AND SO YOU MADE AN EXPENSIVE
JOURNEY TO FIND AN ANSWER.

I HOPE YOU DO. I HOPE YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

OH, GIVE ME A HUG.

OH.

[ SNIFFLES ]

Cooney: BEING IN THE PRESENCE
OF THE TOOTH

IS ONE OF THE MOST SPIRITUALLY
IMPORTANT AND POWERFUL MOMENTS

IN A PILGRIM'S LIFE.

BELIEVERS HAVE TO PETITION
THE TEMPLE IN ADVANCE

JUST TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AN
OFFERING TO THE BUDDHA'S TOOTH.

IT MAY TAKE UP
TO FIVE OR SIX YEARS

TO GET THE APPROVAL
TO ENTER THIS SACRED SPACE.

TWICE A DAY, THE TEMPLE MONKS
PERFORM A CEREMONY

WHERE THEY ALLOW PILGRIMS TO
PRESENT OFFERINGS TO THE TOOTH.

AND THE TEMPLE GUARDIANS
HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH

TO GRANT ME PRIVILEGED ACCESS.

AFTER ALL I'VE SEEN AND HEARD,

I FEEL TRULY HONORED
TO BE ALLOWED IN HERE.

[ GONG ]

I'M FINALLY GOING TO SEE
FIRSTHAND

WHAT HAS CREATED SUCH PASSION

AMONGST BELIEVERS AND RULERS
AND COUNTRIES ALIKE...

AN OBJECT THAT SUPPOSEDLY
AFFECTS THE WEATHER,

HAS STARTED AND ENDED WARS,

AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL,

HOLDS SUCH POLITICAL MEANING
FOR A COUNTRY EVEN TODAY.

I FEEL AN OVERWHELMING SENSE OF
REVERENCE AS I ENTER THE SPACE.

GO HERE?

BUT WHEN I'M STANDING
IN THE SHRINE ROOM,

I DON'T KNOW QUITE WHAT TO DO.

IT'S NOT UNTIL THE MONKS GIVE ME
HANDFULS OF FLOWERS

THAT I REALIZE I'M SUPPOSED
TO GIVE THESE FLOWERS

TO THE BUDDHA.

OKAY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

[ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

THAT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.

NO ONE GETS TO GO
INTO THAT SHRINE ROOM,

AND I WAS RIGHT THERE
IN FRONT OF IT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL GOLD AND SILVER,

BUT KNOWING THAT INSIDE
THERE'S AN OBJECT

THAT PEOPLE BELIEVE
IS A PART OF THE BUDDHA

AND THAT THEY TRAVEL
LONG DISTANCES

AND THEY BELIEVE SO FERVENTLY
IN IT,

IT JUST REALLY TOUCHES YOU.

IT WAS AMAZING.

ALL OF THIS BELIEF...

THIS CONNECTION BETWEEN EMOTION,
CONVICTION, AND HUMAN REMAINS...

MAKES ME THINK OF A PARTICULAR
ROOM IN THE CAIRO MUSEUM...

...A PLACE
WHERE THE ANCIENT KINGS OF EGYPT

ARE KEPT ON VIEW
IN A QUIET, DARKENED SPACE.

THE EGYPTIAN KINGS
IN THESE GALLERIES

WEREN'T INTENDED
TO FUNCTION AS RELICS.

THE PHARAOHS
WOULD BE HORRIFIED TO KNOW

THAT THEY'VE BEEN STRIPPED
OF ALL THEIR MAGICAL PROTECTION

AND EXPOSED TO THE COMMONERS.

THESE MUMMIFIED KINGS...

THOTHMES III, RAMESES II,
SETI I...

ARE SURROUNDED EVERY DAY
BY PEOPLE

WHO WANT TO CONNECT
WITH THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

SOMEHOW WE BELIEVE THAT
BY BEING IN THEIR PRESENCE...

THE PRESENCE
OF THESE DEAD BODIES...

WE'RE CLOSER TO THEM THAN EVER.

WHETHER IT BELONGS TO A GOD,
HOLY MAN, ANCESTOR, STATESMAN,

SAINT, BUDDHA, OR ANIMAL,

THE DEAD BODY
REPRESENTS GREAT POWER

NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S PRESERVED,

BUT BECAUSE THE DEAD BODY
STILL EXISTS WITH US

IN OUR EARTHLY REALM.

WHEN YOU HAVE THIS KIND
OF CONTACT WITH THE DEAD,

MANY BELIEVE
YOU ARE TOUCHING SOMEONE

WHO HAS GONE TO THE GODS.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT,
SOME EVEN FEEL THAT THE CORPSE

CAN BECOME A POWERFUL CONDUIT
TO THE SACRED.

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