10. Vladimir Lenin
Where: Moscow, Russia

A visit to Russia isn't complete without a stop at Vladimir Lenin's final resting place. Following his death in 1924, Lenin was mummified using a special technique so that his body could remain on display in his mausoleum. At times, visitors will line up for hours just to catch a glimpse of the Communist icon.




9. The Mummified Monk
Where: Koh Samui, Thailand

Loung Pordaeng died more than 20 years ago, but his body shows very little signs of decay. Sitting cross-legged, in a traditional meditation pose, and sporting a nice pair of shades, Loung Pordaeng has become the most famous mummy on the island.




8. The Lindow Man
Where: London, England

Discovered in 1985 in a bog in Cheshire, this mummy met a violent death between A.D. 50 and 100. After his skull was smashed with a large object, he was strangled and had his throat slit — not a pleasant way to go. Was he part of a sacrifice? Or was it murder? You can learn more about Lindow Man by visiting him at the British museum.



7. Juanita the Ice Maiden
Where: Arequipa, Peru

After Juanita was discovered in 1996, she toured both the US and Japan before returning to Peru. Studies revealed she had died as part of an Incan sacrifice, her body preserved by freezing temperatures. Her discovery gave researchers more insight into Incan sacrifice rituals, making her one of the more important mummy finds in recent years.



6. The Tollund Man
Where: Silkeborg, Denmark

Discovered in 1950, the Tollund Man has become one of the world's most famous bog-mummies. While only 30-40 years old at the time of his death, he has been dated back to the Iron Age (around 400 B.C.). Many researchers believe he was sacrificed as part of a Druid ritual, then gently placed to rest in the bog.



5. Mummies at St. Michan's Church, Dublin, Ireland
Where: Dublin, Eire

Most visitors to St. Michan's are there to get face to face with four very impressive mummies. The walls in the church's vaults contain limestone, which has kept the air dry, creating ideal conditions for preservation. Among the mummies on display are a 400-year-old nun, an 8-foot-tall crusader and one very mysterious body with its hands and feet severed.



4. Lady Dai
Where: Ch'angsha, China

In 1971, scientists uncovered the tomb of Lady Dai, a Chinese noblewoman who is arguably the world's best preserved mummy. What made this finding so impressive was the vast amount of riches that were found in the tomb, dating as far back as 202 B.C.



3. Otzi the Iceman
Where: Bolanzo, Italy

Frozen in the Alps for more than 5,000 years, Otzi the Iceman gave archeologists a very vivid glimpse into the life of a Copper Age man. Otzi's cause of death was unknown, but after examination scientists found a small arrow lodged in his shoulder.



2. Jeremy Bentham
Where: London, England

This case in University College London displays the skeleton and other remains of Jeremy Bentham wearing Bentham's own clothes and carrying his stick 'Dapple'. The head is a wax recreation since the original head is somewhat decomposed (and was occasionally stolen by students), although it is still preserved in a vault nearby.



1. The Catacomb Mummies
Where: Palermo, Italy

In 1599, Capuchin monks made a shocking discovery while exhuming bodies from the catacombs of their monastery — many of the bodies had been naturally mummified. Following this discovery, the monks decided to mummify their own dead, and the Palermo townspeople soon joined in. The last mummy was laid to rest here in 1920. The catacombs have become one of the largest, and most eerie, collections of mummified bodies in the world.