Mummification Process

Mummification Process

Mummification process is the preservation of the body of the deceased from decomposition, The ancient Egyptians believed in the idea of resurrection after death and the afterlife, which led to the emergence of mummification to preserve the body of the deceased after death and prepare him for eternal life. We will learn some facts about mummification among the ancient Egyptians.

History of Ancient Egyptian Mummification

The history of mummification dates back to about 2600 BC during the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties. The mummification process was easy and simple, after drying the body in hot desert sand. The ancient Egyptian civilization began making more precise and completely specialized craftsmanship. The vital organs were removed from the body of the deceased. The body was carefully cleaned and preserved with various materials, including natron, Nile clay, and linen towels. The body was then wrapped in layers of soft bandages, with amulets and charms placed inside the folds to protect the deceased from evil during his journey to the afterlife.

The Secret of the Egyptian Mummification Process

• The ancient Egyptians believed strongly in the concept of the afterlife and the resurrection of the body and soul.
• They used many tools in order to preserve the dead.
• Discover the so-called mummification process, which is carried out by highly skilled specialists.
• The idea of mummification arose from their observations through their daily lives such as the sun falling every evening and then being reborn the next morning in the east.

Steps-by-Steps

• Before the mummification process, the body was placed in a pit in the desert in a lethal sleep position with all of its valuable personal items.
• They extracted the brain from the nostrils with an iron hook, then the flank was opened and the entire abdominal contents were taken out.
• The body is completely sutured and covered with natron for a full 70 days.
• Place all the extracted organs such as the lungs, liver, stomach and intestines in canopic jars with dry natron, leaving the heart in the body.
• Filling the body with lichen, sawdust, cloth scraps and Nile mud.
• The ancient Egyptians replaced eyes with linen fillings and small onions for cooking.
• It is customary to put a mask on the mummy’s face.

Final Step

If the deceased had the status of a pharaoh, he was buried in a special burial chamber containing spells from texts such as the Book of the Dead along with his personal items that would aid him in his journey to the afterlife.

The purpose of the mummification process

The process of preserving bodies and turning them into mummies is described in detail in the Pyramid Texts, accompanied by the story of the death of Osiris, as the universe fell into complete chaos. It is certain that the ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They believed that the soul was divided into three parts: Ka and Ba, where the double “Ka” of the person who would remain in the grave and “Ba” was considered the soul’s exit from the grave and return at any time. The goal of the mummification process was that for the soul to remain alive, the body must remain intact.

Who Was Mummified?

All members of senior royal officials, members of the royal family, and nobles, as well as all common people who can provide them with mummification of animals that were considered sacred such as bulls, cats, crocodiles, snakes and birds.

Facts About Ancient Egyptian Mummification

• Mummification began by preserving bodies in dry sand during the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties. The best preserved mummies are from the Eighteenth Dynasty until the Twentieth Dynasty, including famous pharaohs such as Tutankhamun.
• There is no doubt that the process of mummification was not limited to the rich or the elite only. But also including wealthier individuals, ordinary Egyptians had more budget-friendly options. But the poorest people can opt for a simple burial where the deceased is wrapped in linen accompanied by the necessary charms for his journey to the afterlife as seen in all the ancient Egyptian coffins discovered throughout Egypt.
• It is certain that all organs such as the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines are removed, then these organs are cleaned and dried, and they are then buried next to the body, but the heart remains in its place.
• Animal mummies are also very common, especially sacred and beloved animals, reflecting different religious and social practices. Animals were worshiped as gods, while other animals were bred for sacrificial purposes such as cats, ibises and cows.
• The mummy’s curse had roots in ancient Egyptian beliefs, and the inscriptions on the tombs warned against it, but the fear of revenge from the spiritual world was not the fear of the mummies themselves.

Conclusion

The art of mummification is the only evidence of the belief of the ancient Egyptians and explains their spiritual journey to the afterlife. Enjoy your visit to Egypt through our trips, learn about many of the secrets of the ancient Egyptians, and spend your vacation in the best places in Egypt.