Mummification in Ancient Egypt
HISTORY
Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife when someone died.
Mummification helped someone reach the afterlife as they thought that,
in order to have an afterlife, the dead person would have to
repossess his or her body.
Egyptians believed that the only way to do
this was if the body was recognizable.
Mummification was mainly done to wealthy people as poorer people could not afford the process.
The chief embalmer was a priest wearing a mask of Anubis. Anubis
was the jackal headed god of the dead. He was closely associated with
mummification and embalming, hence why priests wore a mask of Anubis.
STEP BY STEP PROCESS MUMMIFICATION
- Pull brain out of nose using a hook
- Make a cut on the left side of the body near the tummy
- Remove all internal organs
- Let the internal organs dry
- Place the lungs, intestines, stomach and liver inside canopic jars
- Place the heart back inside the body
- Rinse inside of body with wine and spices
- Cover the corpse with natron (salt) for 70 days
- Cover the body in oil then resin to seal and preserve it
- Take the body to a makeup artist for wig fitting
- After 40 days stuff the body with linen or sand to give it a more human shape
- After the 70 days wrap the body from head to toe in bandages
- Place in casket and label it
http://www.mylearning.org/a-step-by-step-guide-to-egyptian-mummification/p-1681/
