Unique Culture: Ancient Mummies Of Egypt

Ancient Egyptian embalming was a very sacred process performed by experienced embalmers. Ancient Egyptians used to bury the deceased underground, but because of that they decayed faster in a coffin when they aren’t exposed to the hot sand of the desert. That is how they developed the process of embalming to preserve the bodies.

The tombs had two main functions. The first function was a place that provided an eternal resting place in which the body could lay protected from thieves and scavengers. The second function of the tomb was a place where cults and ritual acts could be performed to ensure eternal life (Taylor, 2001:136). The body of the person was buried along with their belongings in the tomb to ensure the individual had all the proper materials needed for the afterlife. The Egyptians usually did this because “Tombs were constructed to mirror aspects of the afterlife” (Olson, 2009). These tombs were not only a place where bodies of a deceased lay; it was also a place where rituals would take place. One ritual that was done on the bodies was the ‘Opening of the Mouth’. This was a burial ritual that “accompanied the placement of funerary goods in a tomb- and was a necessary step in the deceased’s rebirth” (Olson, 2009). One very important service that had to be done was the mummification process in which the removal of organs

Funerary customs are practises and beliefs that the Ancient Egyptians used to respect their dead, and preserve their bodies in preparation for the afterlife which was a universe that mirrored their life on Earth, where they would live with the Gods in eternal Egypt. The body of the deceased could be mummified, which was where a body is dried, packed with minerals and wrapped in linen cloths, whereas another form would be embalming which is the use of salts and spices to preserve a body and took 70 days in total. However, there were many tests and dangers on the way to the afterlife, including fire-filled lakes, poisonous snakes and executioners. Because of this, there were many ceremonies and tests to see if the deceased person was worthy of the Afterlife. Such as the opening of the mouth ceremony which was when a priest touched parts of the deceased body at a funeral in order for the

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

Imagine you’re an archeologist exploring Egypt and you find an old tomb, one that has not been ransacked. Strangely, the mummy is a pharaoh in only a rich man’s tomb and it turns out this ruler died young. The mummy is King Tutankhamun and he was killed by Aye, his chief advisor. Aye killed King Tut for power over Ancient Egypt. Evidence shows that the pharaoh had many injuries before his death.

Mummification was created by the Egyptians to dry out and prepare the body for preservation. It took years to perfect

The Egyptian’s began to make a better understanding on the mummification, it took roughly around seventy days to complete. First; all the major organs were removed from the body, the brain was extracted through the nose with a curved hook, the brain was usually thrown out and not used. The heart was the only organ that was not removed; the Egyptian’s believed the heart was symbolic.

Mummification was the Egyptians way of preserving the body for after life while it was awaiting the god Osiris for judgement. The process itself is very long and difficult. The brain which was less important was removed by the priest with a hook from the nose in several pieces and them thrown out. The large organs were then removed and the body cavities were packed with rock salt called natron to help to rid the body of moisture along with placing the body in the sun. The heart was the only organ left in the body because it was the body’s spirit or Ka. Organs like the intestines, stomach, liver and lungs were then placed in canopic jars

In Ancient Egypt, there were many rituals and processes used that were very unique. One of the fascinating processes used in Ancient Egypt was the mummification process. Ancient Egyptians found the preservation of bodies after death to be very important. They believed that how bodies were preserved may be a result in how the deceased individual is treated in the afterlife. The Egyptians were one of the earliest cultures to come up with the body preservation ideas. The process of mummification carried on for centuries and many of the ideas are still used in the modern day preservation process. Presently, the majority of individuals are embalmed after death. The ideas and practices of the Ancient Egyptians are still very prominent in the present day society.

The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in small pits in the desert sand. The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies quickly, creating lifelike and natural mummies. The arid, desert conditions benefited the poor, who could not afford the elaborate burial preparations available to the elite. Wealthier Egyptians began to bury their dead in stone tombs and, as a result, developed the process of mummification. Mummification was the way in which the Egyptians attempted to control the decomposition of the flesh and preserve the body. It was considered vital to one’s afterlife and was an important process necessary for immortal existence. The mummified body provided a place for a person’s ba, or spirit to return to the body after

Ancient Egyptians from the Old Kingdom through New Kingdom and later on Late Period or Ptolemaic Period used the mummification based on the idea that the dead ones souls wandered and were unable to return to their bodies. Therefore they preserved the physical bodies that were paramount. Egyptians used special jars during mummification process with beliefs related to afterlife and safeguard the soul.

The first step for mummification is to take the body to the tent, also known as Ibu, which is a place to purify the body. The body will be washed with a specific wine and later on rise with water from the Nile RIver. After the body is cleaned the Embalmers, an Egyptian that mummifies the body, will start to cut the body. The first cut is usually on the left side of the body and they will remove as much as possible of the internal organs. It’s important to remove the internal organs because it’s the first part of the body that will decompose. The organs are cleaned and placed in canopic jars but the heart is kept inside of the body because “it is the centre of intelligence and feeling and the man will need it in the afterlife.”-ancientegypt.co.uk Next the Embalmers use a long hook to pull out the brain. After the organs and brain are taken out of the body, Embalmers use natron to cover and stuff the body. Natron is used to dry up the inside and the outside of the body. The body is left for forty days for the natron to dry up. After the forty days are up, the Embalmers will wash the body again with water from the Nile River. The body is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic. The inside of the body is now dehydrated so the Embalmers cover the inside of the with sawdust, leaves and linen which is specific cloth that was woven from a flax. The reason why they are stuffing the body with this things is because they want the body to more lifelike. The body is once again covered well smelling oils. Now the body is ready to get wrapped. First the head will be wrapped with linen bandages and the finger and toes are wrapped individually. The arms and legs will be wrapped separately as the Embalmers wrap the arms and legs they place amulets on the body for protection. Two amulets that is placed on the bodies commonly is the “Isis Knot” which will protect the

Mummies are one of the most prevalent physiognomies of the ancient Egyptian culture. As one questions the motives of body preservation, otherwise known as mummification, the enigmatic myth of the afterlife is brought in as the center focus; requiring one to dig deeper within the civilization, traditions and beliefs of the culture to truly comprehend its deeper purposes. While many world cultures have concentrated the most on the creation myths and how things came to be but paid less attention to death, the ancient Egyptians were more enthralled with death. Death was a key episode, a momentary interlude and a progression filled with many rituals that led to a newer life. The afterlife. Unlike the Greeks who were more engrossed

A few of the steps to making a mummy can be quite disturbing. When someone passes away, their bodies can be mummified. The egyptians believed the body was important in the person’s next life. First, the dead body is cleaned with natron salt dissolved in water, and rubbed in oil perfumes. Next, the body is brought to

Mummification is an ancient process that has been around for ages. It made its first appearance 2000 years before the egyptians caught on. The Chinchorro mummies were discovered in South American Chinchorro culture, modern day Chile and Peru. Fast forward 2000 years and mummification started to become the norm for Egyptians. The purpose of mummification was to preserve the body and make it ready for the afterlife. However, the methods of mummification differed greatly depending on what social class the deceased were in. For example, in the higher social classes the embalmer would first draw out the brains. This became standard around 1700 BC, the brain was deemed as insignificant in the afterlife. [Embalmers] left only the heart in place, believing