EMBALMING AND

THE CREATION OF MUMMIES

OBJECTIVE

• To understand certain aspects of Egyptian religion, specifically, why mummies were created and how this process was carried out

THE AFTERLIFE

• One major aspect of Egyptian religion was the belief in life after death

• To ensure this, the body must be preserved so that the soul (ka) has a place to live after death

• Human bodies decay naturally, so steps must be taken to preserve the body

• no preservation = no afterlife

Embalming= still done today

Mummification = only took place in Ancient Egypt

MUMMIFICATION

• Embalming is the process used to preserve a dead body

• This was very time consuming and expensive, so this was usually limited to the powerful and wealthy

• Took 70 days to complete, done by priests

MUMMIFICATION

• Anubis- God of Mummification

• Priests wore Jackal masks during parts of the mummification process to symbolize this god

STEP 1- PURIFY THE BODY

• Body would be washed once with water, and a second time with natron• Natron- dehydrates, preserves

STEP 2- HANDLE THE BRAIN

• Remove brain and discard, as it was believed that the brain had no importance and was simply stuffing for the head

• How to remove the brain? Get creative!

• Brain cavity then filled with sawdust, resin, and linen

STEP 3- DEAL WITH THE ORGANS

• “Slicer” Priest makes long incision down left side of body• Major organs (liver, kidneys,

intestines, etc) were removed through an incision in the abdomen• These would be embalmed

separately and stored in Canopic Jars

CANOPIC JARS

• Intestines put in falcon jar• Lungs put in Baboon Jar• Liver Put in Jar with Human Head• Stomach but in Jackal Jar

• All Organs Dried in Natron before being placed in jars

WHAT ABOUT THE HEART?

• Never removed from body

• Believed to be where intelligence and emotion came from

• Played a role in a person’s entry into the afterlife

STEP 4- DEAL WITH THE BODY

• Body cavity is washed out

• Body is folded and put in a large jar filled with natron to remove fatty tissue and peel away muscle

• Body remains in jar for 40 days and comes out 75% lighter in weight

STEP 5- STUFF THE BODY

• After the body comes out of the natron, it is rinsed and dried• Body cavity is filled with linen scraps, resin,

bags of natron, and sawdust in order to maintain its’ shape• Body is then sewn shut or sealed with wax• Face is “plumped up” with mud inserted

through tiny cuts in skin• False Eyes are created using onions• A wig might be created if the dead person

is wealthy enough.

STEP 6- WRAP IT UP

• Next comes a 15 day process of wrapping the body in strips of linen• 20 layers of wrapping needed• Started with hands and feet• A huge amount of linen was used, up to

450 square feet!• Amulets with special powers were often

inserted between the layers

“EXTRAS” FOR THE WEALTHY

• Amulets made from gold and silver to be wrapped in the linen

• Finger and Toe Stalls made of gold to protect these important body parts

• Portrait Mask to be placed over the bandages

A MUMMY

STEP 7- MASK

• When wrapping is completed, the mummy is fitted with a burial mask

• Pharaoh- Gold

• Others- cartonnage (paper mache)

STEP 7- SARCOPHAGUS

• Again, usually limited to pharaohs and very wealthy• It is essentially a coffin,

and was meant to further aid in the preservation of the body• Often three coffins that

“nest” together• Persons name and many

compliments about the person are written on the coffins

COFFINS

• Coffins were painted inside and out. Inside: prayers, incantations, maps of the underworld. Outside: likeness of the dead person.

EYES OF HORUS

• Two “udjats” (eyes of horus) painted on inside near head so mummy could see out.

STEP 8- ENTOMB!

• The mummy would then be placed in a Stone tomb, which depending on the time period could be above or below ground• Tombs are painted with pictures showing people enjoying the afterlife

TOMB ROOMS

GOODS FOR THE AFTERLIFE

• Fill Tomb with all items that were needed in life to make the afterlife more pleasurable• Food• Entertainment• Pets• Household items• Shabitis (small figurines of servants to serve

people in the afterlife)

SHABITIS

BOOK OF THE DEAD

•Collection of prayers, passwords, spells, and advice collected over 100’s of years•Travel Guide to the underworld•As many of 190 different “chapters”

COLLECTION OF SPELLS FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAD

• For causing a Shabti to do work for a man in the realm of the dead• For going out into the day after opening the

tomb• For not permitting a mans heart to be taken

from him in the realm of the dead• For repelling a beetle• For driving off a snake• For drinking water and not being burnt by fire

BOOK OF THE DEAD

BOOK OF THE DEAD

FUNERAL

• Happens about 70 days after a person dies• All mourners are dressed in blue and

many are hired professionals because they wail loudly and throw ash on themselves. Social status gauged by the number of people present• Burial is on the west side of the Nile

MOURNERS

OPENING OF THE MOUTH CEREMONY

• Several priests needed to chant prayers• One priest raises an

adze to touch the coffins mouth• All of the senses are

restored to the mummy for the afterlife!

OSIRIS

HIGH TECH SCANS AND X-RAYS

REAL MUMMIES

RAMSES

VIDEO LINKS

• Mummification video• Zahi Hawass on mummification• Screaming Man Video