Mumia

From Encyc

Mumia or Pulvis Mumiae was a powder that was created from finely ground Egyptian mummies and used throughout ancient Europe, beginning in the 15th century, as a medical remedy for ailments and illnesses. It came about as a result of bitumen, a substance similar to tar which was known as "Mumia" in the Farsi language, being mistaken for a material that bound mummies. Bitumen was seen as an elixir in Europe during the early Dark Ages, and treated like a medical miracle. Until the Renaissance, Mumia was frequently used and consumed as a cure-all for various ailments. This was a form of cannibalism, as it involved the consumption of humans. Whilst in this day and age it seems like a primitive, uncivilized behavior to engage in, it was not seen as anything but normal during the 15th century. This is not practiced today, and is instead seen by those who know about it as a savage relic from the past.

Strangely, while the Simple English and German versions of Wikipedia have articles about this subject, the English Wikipedia does not even discuss it. Instead, all that is there is a redirect to the article on Mumia Abu-Jamal, a prisoner who was convicted of murder (though many dispute the legitimacy of the conviction).