The mummification process
20 Aug

The mummification process

Mummification is a process in which the skin and flesh of a dead body can be  protected. The Mummification process can happen either naturally, Also The Mummification process can be calculated. If The Mummification process occurs naturally, it is the result of cold (as can be found in a glacier), acid (as can be found in a bog) or dryness. The Egyptians pharaohs covered stupe around the dead body to protect the body from mold.

Mummies of humans and other animals have been found on every continent, but as a result of natural protection through unusual case, and as cultural artifacts. Over one million animal mummies have been found in Egypt, many of which are cats. They used a hook to take off the brain from taking it out from the nose and they would surgically take off all other organs but the heart, as this was needed for the weighing of the heart ceremony. The organs would then be buried with the mummy in separate containers called canopic jars.

The  Egyptians pharaohs buried their dead bodies in small hole in the desert. The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies quickly, make lifelike and natural 'mummies'. Also, the Egyptians pharaohs  began burying their dead in coffins to protect them from wild animals in the desert. However, they realized that bodies placed in coffins decayed when they were not exposed to the hot, dry sand of the desert.

Over many centuries, the Egyptians pharaohs advanced a mummification process to preserve bodies so they would remain lifelike. The mummification process included embalming the bodies and wrapping them in strips of linen. Today we call this process mummification.

The Egyptian Pharaohs believed in an afterlife when someone died.  Mummification process helped someone reach the afterlife as they thought that, To have an afterlife, the dead person would have to repossess his or her body. Egyptian Pharaohs believed that the only way to do this was if the body was recognizable.

Mummification process was mainly done to rich people as poorer people could not afford the mummification process.

How the mummification process took place: 

  1. Insert a hook through a hole near the nose and pull out part of the brain
  2. Make a cut on the left side of the body near the tummy
  3. Remove all internal organs
  4. Let the internal organs dry
  5. Place all internal organs inside canopic jars except for the heart which place back inside the body
  6. washing inside of body with wine and spices
  7. Cover the corpse with natron (salt) for 70 days
  8. After 40 days stuff the body with linen or sand to give it a more human shape.
  9. After the 70 days wrap the body from head to toe in stupe
  10. Place in a sarcophagus
  11. If the person had been a Pharaoh, he would be placed inside his special burial chamber with lots of treasure.

There were four canopic jars and each had a different plug :-

1- Imsety: a person’s head guarded the liver

2- Qebhesneuf: a falcon watched over the intestines

3- Hapy: a baboon protected the lungs

4- Duamutef: a jackal looked after the stomach

They were the four sons of Horus. Horus was the Egyptian Pharaohs God of the sky and the protector of the Pharaoh. Horus was pictorial as a falcon or a man with a falcon's head. 

Mummies were buried with many several kinds of things:

1- Amulets

Amulets were buried with the mummy  in and around the mummy stupe. Amulets would protect the mummy after death.   The most famous amulet was The eye of Horus which was used as a symbol of protection from wickedness.

2- Shabtis

Shabtis were small statuettes  in the form of a mummy. Shabtis were placed inside the grave of the deceased. The Egyptian Pharahos believed that these figures would come to life when called by the dead body and would serve him in his afterlife.

 3- Jewellery and treasures

 Mummies were often buried with many of their belongings that might be needed in the afterlife.  If the mummy belonged to a very rich person, he would be buried with objects made out of gold like their Jewellery and treasures.

Also Furniture, models of farmers, bakers, millers and pottery have all been found in burial sites.

We must known about The Intentional mummification process

Intentional mummification process was mutual in ancient Egypt, mostly for burying Egyptian pharaohs. Osiris was probably the first mummy in Egypt.

It takes about 70 days to complete the mummification of a dead body. The steps of this mummification process were: The premier steps to push a sharp bar up the nose and into the brain. From there, the brain is broken up into small pieces and removed through the nose, and then the nose is filled with saw dust. Next, they make a hole in the body to remove all the organs unless the heart. Jars which had the heads of gods on top were used to storage the organs. The hole was then filled with linen and spices and the body was left under salt to become dry. Finally, after 40 days the body was covered in linen stupe. Priests surrounded the body while it was being ready and perfect rituals. After the mummification process was complete, a mask was placed over the head so it could be known in the afterlife.

Mummies in Egypt:

A mummy is a deceased human or an animal whose skin and organs have been protected by either intentional or accidental display to chemicals, excessive cold, very low humidity, or shortage of air, so that the recovered body does not decay further if kept in cool and dry conditions.

Mummies of humans and animals have been found on every continent, Some of them as a effect of natural preservation through unusual conditions, and as cultural artifacts. Over one million animal mummies have been found in Egypt, many of which are cats. Many of the Egyptian animal mummies are sacred ibis.

increase to the well-known mummies of ancient Egypt, deliberate mummification process was a advantage of several ancient cultures in areas of America and Asia with very dry weather.

There were no limitation on who could be mummified. Any Egyptian pharaohs who could bear to pay for the expensive process of preserving their bodies for the afterlife was allowed to mummify themselves. Egyptians pharaohs believed in life after death, and that death was just a move from one life to another. They believed that they had to protect their bodies so they could lead a new life. They would need all the things they had used when they were alive so their family would put those things in their tomb. Egyptians pharaohs paid great amounts of money to have their bodies properly protected. It took a very long time from start to finish. It took them 70 days to mummy a body. Canopic jars were used by Egyptian pharaohs to hold the internal organs. It was very serious to Egyptian pharaohs religion that the human body was protected. Anubis was a god of mummification, he had a human body and a head of a jackal. His job was to prepare the body of the dead to be received by Osiris. Osiris will then allow the souls into the underworld.

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