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Mummification Explained v2

Ancient Egyptians developed an elaborate mummification process to preserve bodies for the afterlife. They removed internal organs, dried the body with natron for 40 days, wrapped it in linen with amulets, and placed it in a decorated coffin. Royals received more extensive rituals than commoners. Mummies were believed to be judged in the afterlife, with their heart weighed against a feather and their soul reunited with their preserved body.

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Maghesh Babu
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83 views

Mummification Explained v2

Ancient Egyptians developed an elaborate mummification process to preserve bodies for the afterlife. They removed internal organs, dried the body with natron for 40 days, wrapped it in linen with amulets, and placed it in a decorated coffin. Royals received more extensive rituals than commoners. Mummies were believed to be judged in the afterlife, with their heart weighed against a feather and their soul reunited with their preserved body.

Uploaded by

Maghesh Babu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A E Mummification

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What is a mummy?
A mummy is a person or animal whose soft tissue has been preserved.
Egyptian mummies are intentional, meaning that people performed specific
rituals or processes on the remains of a person or animal to preserve soft
tissue. Some mummies are unintentional, which means natural conditions
preserved the soft tissue (things like skin and muscle).

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 1


Other Types of Mummies
The ancient Egyptians mummified lots
of animals, including dogs, cats, and
birds.

They also mummified food so they


would have something to eat in the
afterlife. This is known as a “victual
mummy.”

Ushabtis
These are ushabtis (u-shop-tees), the servants of the deceased, believed to
carry out tasks in the afterlife. “Ushabti” translates to “the answerer.”
King Tut had several hundred ushabtis.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 2


Valley of the Kings
This is the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. It’s a burial site including the tombs
of almost 70 different rulers, royalty, or other high-ranking people. King Tut
was buried here. The Valley of the Kings was meant to hide burial sites so that
tomb robbers wouldn’t find and loot them.

Who was mummified?


Pharaohs were commonly mummified and buried in elaborate tombs.

Non-royals were also mummified. However, their mummification wasn’t


necessarily as thorough as royalty, depending on what their family could
afford. The mummification of a poor person could be as simple as washing
out the intestines and covering the body with natron, then covering them
with minimal wrappings and burying them in a shallow grave or cave.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 3


Wash the Body
The first step in the Egyptian mummification process was washing the body with
water from the Nile River, which was sacred because it helped their crops grow.

Removing the Brain


The next step was removing the brain, using a brain hook.
They discarded the brain.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 4


Remove the Organs
Next, the priests would remove other internal organs. The heart was the most
important since they believed it was the seat of one’s spirit and being.

Canopic Jars - The Four Sons of Horus


Each organ was put in one of four canopic jars to be protected by one of the
Four Sons of Horus.

Human
Imseti
Liver Falcon
Qebehsenuef
Intestines

Jackal
Duamutef
Stomach Baboon
Hapy
Lung

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 5


Natron
After the priests removed the organs, they covered the body inside and out
with natron. Natron is a naturally occurring salt from the Egyptian desert
that absorbs moisture and fat. They had to replace the natron every couple
weeks. This portion of the process lasted about 40 days.

Wrap the Body


Next, it was time to wrap the mummy. Wrapping the mummy was symbolic
in many ways. As the arms and legs were wrapped, the priest read spells to
protect and re-awaken it in the afterlife.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 6


Adorn the Body

The priests tucked amulets into


the mummy’s wrappings. An
amulet is an object that people
believe will protect the person who
carries it. The ancient Egyptians
believed the amulets would ensure
safe passage and existence in the
afterlife. For example, King Tut
had over 140 amulets scattered
through his wrappings.

The ancient Egyptians would include a heart


scarab beetle and pectoral with the wrapped
mummy. They would also put a mask over
the wrapped mummy’s face. They were
concerned that the mummy’s spirit wouldn’t
recognize their body because the face was
covered with wrappings.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 7


Opening of the Mouth

This is the “Opening of the Mouth”


ceremony, where the priest
restored the mummy’s five senses.
The mummy would need their
senses in the afterlife.

Place in Coffin
The mummy would be interred
in a coffin, which could take
several different shapes. This one
is an anthropoid coffin, meaning
it’s shaped like the human body
(wide at the shoulders and then
narrowing).

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 8


Weighing of the Heart
The ancient Egyptians believed their heart would be weighed on these
scales against the feather of the goddess Maat. Maat represented the idea of
order, which, in this context, meant “what is right.” This scene also features
Anubis, the god of embalming. He has the head of a jackal.

Ammit
Ammit was the devourer. The
demon had the head of a crocodile,
the body of a lion, and the bottom
of a hippopotamus. If someone’s
heart was heavier than Maat’s
feather, Ammit would devour their
heart. When Ammit devoured
their heart, they weren’t sent
somewhere to be punished; they
just disappeared.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 9


The Ba
Finally, the Ba would be reunited with the physical mummy. The Ba
represented the personality of the deceased. In order for the mummy to
survive the afterlife, it had to be reunited with the Ba every night.

Research Today
We’re still finding mummies today.
Preserved in mummy cells is a
record of disease, which doctors
and scientists can examine to learn
about viruses and bacteria. Studying
mummies can help us learn more
about past cultures and develop
improved vaccines and other
treatments.

Ancient Egyptian Mummification Explained Page 10

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