What exactly is a mummy?
Ancient Egyptian mummification is the most famous embalming system in history. A mummy is someone or anything that has had its physical body preserved. Egyptian mummies are purposeful, meaning embalmers performed certain rites on human or animal remains to preserve the body. Some mummies are inadvertent, meaning natural circumstances preserved the body.
Ancient Egyptian Mummification Types
The first thing that springs to mind when thinking of mummification in ancient Egypt is human mummified bodies, such as the mummies of the Kings. Other animals, such as dogs, cats, and birds were part of the ancient Egyptian mummification. They also preserved food so that they may enjoy it in the afterlife. A “victual mummy” is what this is called.
Who was it that was mummified?
Pharaohs were frequently mummified and buried in grandiose tombs throughout their reign. Non-royal people were also mummified at this time. Although their mummification was not as extensive as that of royalty, depending on their family’s financial resources, it was nevertheless impressive nonetheless. Simple methods of mummification for the poor include cleaning out the intestines and coating the corpse with natron, then putting them in the bare minimum of wrappings and burying them in a small grave or cave.
Steps of the Ancient Egyptian Mummification Process
- Body cleansing:
The ancient Egyptian mummification procedure began with priests washing the body with Nile River water. They considered the water sacred because it aided in the growth of their crops.
- Taking the brain out:
Using a brain hook, the next step was to remove the brain. They threw away the brain.
- Taking out the organs:
In the meticulous process of ancient Egyptian mummification, priests removed the internal organs, but they left the heart inside the body as the seat of the soul. The other major organs were placed in four Canopic jars. Each jar was guarded by one of the Four Sons of Horus and protected a specific organ: the liver, stomach, lungs, and intestines.
- Using Natron Salt:
After priests removed the organs, they used natron to wrap the body both inside and out. Natron is a salt that occurs naturally in the Egyptian desert and absorbs moisture and fat. Every several weeks, they had to replenish the Natron. This part of the procedure took roughly 40 days to complete.
- Wrapping the body:
It was then time to wrap the mummy. In many respects, wrapping the mummy was significant. The priest read charms to safeguard and reawaken them in the afterlife while the arms and legs were wrapped.
- Ritual of opening the mouth:
The priest restored the mummy’s five senses during the “Opening of the Mouth” rite, a critical step in ancient Egyptian mummification. In the afterlife, the mummy would require their senses.
Adorning the body:
The priests placed amulets inside the mummy’s wrappings. People think that wearing an amulet would protect the person who wears it. The ancient Egyptians thought the amulets ensured safe passage and survival in the afterlife. For example, priests strewed almost 140 amulets around King Tut’s wrappings. The ancient Egyptians would also include a heart scarab beetle and a pectoral with the wrapped mummy. They would cover the shrouded mummy’s face with a mask. Because priests shrouded the mummy’s face in wrappings, they were anxious that the mummy’s soul would be unable to identify its body.
Incorporating the mummy inside the coffin:
Priests would entomb the mummy in a coffin that could take on a variety of forms. It’s an anthropoid coffin, which means it’s shaped like a human body (wide at the shoulders and then narrow). This final step of ancient Egyptian mummification was crucial for the mummy’s journey.
The heart is being weighed
The ancient Egyptians thought that their hearts would be weighed against the goddess Maat’s feather on the scales. Maat symbolized the concept of order, which signified “what is proper” in this context. Anubis, the deity of embalming, also appears in this scenario. He wears a jackal’s head.
“Legendary Animal” Ammit
The devourer was Ammit. The monster had a crocodile’s head, a lion’s body, and the bottom of a hippopotamus. Ammit would consume someone’s heart if it was heavier than Maat’s feather. They did not go anywhere for Ammit to punish them and consume their hearts; they just vanished.
“Spirit of the Deceased” (Ba):
Finally, the Ba and the physical mummy would reconcile. The Ba symbolized the deceased’s personality. Every night, the Ba had to rejoin the mummy to endure the afterlife.
The Ancient Egyptian Mummification in Today’s Research: Archaeologists continuously discover mummies. Mummy cells preserve a record of sickness, which physicians and scientists may analyze to learn more about viruses and bacteria. Mummies can help us understand more about ancient societies and create better vaccinations and other therapies by allowing us to study them.
Take one of our Egypt Tour Packages to see the fresh discoveries and Royal Mummies, as well as a lovely Nile Cruise experience in Luxor and Aswan to see the everlasting location of the Ancient Egyptian Mummies at the Valley of the Kings.
