We all know about human mummies, but the Brooklyn Museum is unraveling the mystery behind animal ones.

Dozens of mummified animals are on full display at the museums "Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt" exhibit.

The specimens are thousands of years old.

Curators say they played an important role in the afterlife in Egyptian culture.

"The egyptians belived that animals had souls and that when you mummified them they actually turned into gods according to the Egyptians," said Edward Blieberg, curator at the Brooklyn Museum.  

The exhibit runs until January 21.

To learn more head to brooklynmuseum.org.