J. GillJ. Gill

June 2009June 2009

Life After Death and Life After Death and Mummies Mummies

Ancient Egypt.Ancient Egypt.

The Egyptians believed that when The Egyptians believed that when they died, they would make a journey they died, they would make a journey to another world where they would to another world where they would lead a new life. lead a new life.

Egyptians paid vast amounts of money Egyptians paid vast amounts of money to have their bodies properly to have their bodies properly preserved ready for the after life. preserved ready for the after life. Egyptians who were poor were buried Egyptians who were poor were buried in the sand whilst the rich ones were in the sand whilst the rich ones were buried in a tomb. buried in a tomb.

What did the Egyptians believe What did the Egyptians believe would happen when they died?would happen when they died?

MummiesMummies Rich Egyptians were preserved Rich Egyptians were preserved

properly. This process was called properly. This process was called mummification.mummification.

Mummification took 70 days.Mummification took 70 days.

How to create a mummyHow to create a mummy

The body was washed with water from The body was washed with water from the Nile and taken to a place called the Nile and taken to a place called per nefer where the mummies were per nefer where the mummies were made.made.

The chief embalmer would make a cut The chief embalmer would make a cut on the left side of the abdomen and on the left side of the abdomen and remove the internal organs. He would remove the internal organs. He would placed these in canopic jars.placed these in canopic jars.

Canopic jarsCanopic jars

Imsety, the human Imsety, the human headed God looked headed God looked after the liver.after the liver.

Hapy, the Hapy, the baboon headed baboon headed God looked God looked after the lungs.after the lungs.

Duamutef, the Duamutef, the jackal headed God jackal headed God looked after the looked after the stomach.stomach.

QebehsenuefQebehsenuef, the falcon , the falcon headed God headed God looked after looked after the lungs.the lungs.

What happened next?What happened next?

The body was dried using salt and The body was dried using salt and then filled with stuffing.then filled with stuffing.

It was then left for 40 days. It was then left for 40 days. The body was rubbed with oils and The body was rubbed with oils and

refilled with linen or sawdust.refilled with linen or sawdust. It was then wrapped in linen It was then wrapped in linen

bandages.bandages.

Burial ChamberBurial Chamber After the mummy was completed it was placed in a After the mummy was completed it was placed in a

sarcophagus (coffin) which was decorated with pictures of sarcophagus (coffin) which was decorated with pictures of Gods and spells.Gods and spells.

It was then placed in a It was then placed in a burial chamber with the burial chamber with the canopic jars and many canopic jars and many different items for the different items for the journey to the after life journey to the after life such as food, games and such as food, games and furniture.furniture.

Inside the burial chamberInside the burial chamber

The walls of the The walls of the tombs were tombs were decorated with decorated with paintings and paintings and spells.spells.

Here are some examples of the wall art.