After Life: A History of Death

27 October 2023 – 5 July 2024

Death is universal. In spite of this, the way we prepare for, think about and respond to death, varies significantly.

‘After Life’ explored changing views of death from antiquity to the present day. It used the remarkable collections of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and its library - Scotland’s oldest and largest medical library - to uncover the history of death. An original copy of Napoleon Bonaparte’s post-mortem, written on Saint Helena Island, and a diary documenting the last days of celebrated Edinburgh physician James Young Simpson were displayed alongside a broadside proclaiming the execution of famous Edinburgh murderer William Burke.

The exhibition was split into three themes. It began by examining the process of dying – deathbed experiences and how we identify death.

It then moved on to uncover what happens to the human body – from cremation to dissection, cannibalism and mummification. 

Finally, the exhibition explored death in different cultures, including Victorian mourning rituals and Irish wakes.