The Role Of Historical Inaccuracies In The Mummy

This latter point is exceedingly salient, and the prominent featuring of Egyptian gods throughout Tutankhamun’s tomb denotes the considerable cultural significance of religion and the way in which it essentially governed much of ancient Egyptian society. Correspondingly, such artefacts as the Shabti dolls further emphasize the importance of the afterlife, as the minuscule dolls are intended to represent servants for the pharaoh in life after death. This illustrates that the pharaoh was regarded as a hugely esteemed figure and shows the focus that was placed upon ensuring that the afterlife was a comfortable and hospitable environment for the ruler.

Tutankhamun was an Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh whose legacy extends to the present, and currently one of the best-known ancient Egyptians of all-time. The “Boy King” inherited the throne at the age of nine, his reign lasting only ten years before his sudden unexpected death. The traditional burial customs and funeral processions were carried out upon him, but the tomb he was laid to rest in was unique from the typical Eighteenth Dynasty tombs characterised by their lavish style and large scale. This uniqueness has been evidenced in a variety of archaeological and written sources, which express the tomb’s historical significance.

Nonetheless, during the 12th Dynasty, there was a temple built for Amun’s worship and toward the end of the 18th Dynasty, Amun’s status increased even more and he became known as “…the great royal deity who was “Father of the Gods” and ruler of Egypt and the people of its empire (Rosalie 104).

This necapolis is located on the west bank of the Nile River in Egypt and dates back in use from 1539-1075 B.C. (cited). These structures were not monuments to the Pharaoh’s life but were considered to be portals to the next one. The chamber rooms contained items made solely for use in the afterlife to insure the Pharaoh’s success. Detailed instructions and illustrations are on the walls exhibiting the trials and tests the king will be required to pass before obtaining his immortality and placement among the gods. The process of mummification was developed for the purpose of the sovereign’s body to be reanimated in the afterlife.

The process begins where the body is taken into an “ibu”, a tent also known as the “place of purification”. That is where the embalmers wash the body in palm wine and rinse it off with water from the Nile. The next step is when one of the men makes a small cut in the left side of the body and removes the liver, lungs, stomach and also intestines. It is important to remove these internal organs because they are one of the fastest to decompose. These internal organs are then washed and packed in natron, a mineral salt that contains hydrated sodium carbonate. The natron will dry out the organs. The heart is not taken out because Egyptians believed that the heart was the center of intelligence and feeling and the body will need it in the afterlife.

Ancient Egyptians believed that if they lived a good life that they would be allowed to live in a paradise in death. When an Egyptian would die, they would be mummified. Properly burying and preserving the body was very important because they believed that the soul would not actually disconnect from the body. Organs deemed important were put in jars and buried with the body. The heart was left inside the body. Once the body was cured in preserving solutions, it was then wrapped in linen cloths. Rich individuals were buried in temples with their most prized possessions. A priest would pray to Anubis for the dead to help them on their journey.

Regardless of social strata, death and the afterlife were almost always valued by the living in ancient Egypt. The afterlife was birthed and designed for great societal rulers but eventually trickled down and was adopted by other levels of society (Murnane in Obayashi, 1992, p. 42). Death was interpreted as “new life in another state” by ancient Egypt, and the ultimate goal of immortality could be attained if specific burial arrangements were made for the dead. This was to avoid a final death of the soul known as the “second death,” and measures such as burial with food, drink, and personal possessions, were taken to aid the soul on its journey into immortality (Murnane in Obayashi, 1992, p. 36).

The mummification process is done in two phases, the first being embalming and the latter being wrapping and burial. There was a special place for embalming to take place known as the ibu. The ibu was called the place of purification. The first thing the embalmers do is to clean his body with aromatic palm wine and rinse it with Nile water. The next step involves removing all but a select few of the internal organs. The process used to remove the internal organs changed over time and varied with the wealth of the body in question. The heart was left in the body because of its necessity as the focal point of mental and emotional stability. The body’s fluids and rags used in this phase are left with the body for its burial. The body is left for a period of

Amenhotep IV better known as Akhenaten is one of the most interesting pharaohs to have ever ruled over Egypt (BBC). He changed his name to Akhenaton, which means 'the servant of Aten' early in his reign (ehistory). He came into power around 1353 BCE and stayed in power for 17 years (BBC). His wife was queen Nefertiti and they had six daughters, he also fathered king Tut (BBC). Akhenaten was a true visionary as he made revolutionary changes to the religion and art of Ancient Egypt.

“Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated”2. Ancient mythology is heavily embedded into our modern culture and forms of entertainment. Movies about heroism, tragedy and futuristic societies are, more or less, adaptation of old stories extracted from various poetry, literature, and narratives. Some inspirations come from religious books, Shakespearean works and cultural myths. Disney movies, enjoyed by children and adults alike, is a prime example of how antiquity permeates through modern media. The classic 1994 animated musical1, The Lion King, reflects integration of works such as: William Shakespeare's Hamlet, and stories from the Bible. The movie is analyzed

After death, an Ancient Egyptian’s Akh, or complete soul, goes through many tests to prove it deserves a final resting place in the afterlife. The ultimate trial is the judgement of the heart. It’s verdict determined your existence and whether or not you made it into the peaceful afterlife. This common belief for Ancient polytheists in Egypt played a huge role in the decisions they made, as a heart proved heavy in the final judgement would limit your existence furthermore. While a heart that was found to be light and pure with good deeds would be granted an eternal afterlife. Many gods, goddesses, and tools were involved with this process, each playing a different and crucial part for this supreme trial.

On September 9, 1991 a discovery was made that changed scientist’s view on the Neolithic and Copper Era forever. What was found turned out to be the oldest frozen mummy ever in history. Little did scientists know that what they could have on their hands is a murder.

Veronica Wedgwood once stated, “Without the imaginative insight which goes with creative literature, history cannot be intelligibly written.” The questions proposed seem simple; firstly, what reasons do your authors give to explain the historical inaccuracies in these films? Secondly, in your view, do the historical inaccuracies harm or help our understanding of past events and historical figures? Thirdly, in your view, do the historical inaccuracies harm or help our understanding of the present (people or groups)? After careful reading of the authors “re-viewing the past” articles, I realized that these questions are all challenging, and the above stated quote alludes to the difficulties in answering them. Did screen writers or director’s

Since being one of the most intact monuments of Ancient Egypt, the finding of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 is believed to be the utmost significant archaeological discoveries of the century. The treasures found were stored in the following parts of the tomb the Antechamber Annex, and then the Burial Chamber and Treasury. The Ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife. The customs and beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians called for the preservation of the body and extensive provisions for the after-life which were buried with them in the tomb. These treasures were seen as a continuation of the life of the Pharaoh before his death. It was therefore seen as essential that the favourite items belonging to King Tut would be buried

Throughout history, the mummy has been stereotyped as no more than an egyptian deceased wrapped in cloth, whose spirit returns from the dead in order to haunt mankind. However, as literature and mythology present, Mummies exist in modern context promptly as scorned lovers, scientists, past rulers, wronged souls, or a combination of all. In deconstructing the Mummy, the statement of “We are creatures that require social interaction” often comes to mind. After all, even in death we are infrequently capable of surviving without the companionship of family, loved ones, friends, or the presence of another soul.