Explore a Mummy

In-Depth: Mummification

Mummification was such a huge aspect

of ancient Egypt, but WHY?

Well, the need to mummify comes from the religious

beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, who were polytheistic.

1. Egyptians mummified the dead because it would preserve

the dead body. This was important, for they believed the physical body needed to be preserved for the after-life.

2. If the body was not preserved through mummification,

then that person would not make it to the afterlife.

So, "why mummify"? Simple. To preserve the body for the afterlife.

Let's move on to the "HOW" and other details...

Let's go a little more "In-depth" with mummification.

Let this Prezi guide you through some interesting details about this very important ritual for the Egyptians.

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Ok, so we know why the Egyptians mummified, but how did they do it?

Check out the 6 basic steps...

1. Announcement of Death: during this step, it was announced

that the Pharaoh had died and his body had been brought to

the embalming tent. (embalming means preserving the body)

2. Removal of Brain: In this gory step, the brain was removed

through the dead Pharaoh's nose. In Egypian beliefs, the brain

was not important, so it was pulled out and thrown away.

3. Removal of Internal Organs: Another disgusting step. A small

cut was made on the lower stomache and four organs were

removed: Lungs, intestines, liver, and stomache. (See more about

this step later)

4. Drying the Body Out: After the "guts" were removed, the body

needed to be dried out, or preserved. To do this, the body was

packed and covered with Natron salt, which sucked all the moisture

out of the body. Similar to beef jerky. (hungry?)

5. Wrapping the Body: After the body was dried out, it needed to

be wrapped, which took a LOT of linen cloth. This gave the mummy

the "mummy" look we typically think of.

6. Final Procession: The mummy was placed in a sarcaphogus and

brought to the Pyramid for burial.

Now, within each of the 6 steps, some other important details exist.

Let's see what else goes on with Mummification...

The four organs were placed in Canopic Jars. These Canopic Jars were buried with the mummy.

Qebehsenuef:

Intestines

Duamutef:

Stomach

Hapy:

Lungs

Imsety:

Liver

Remember that part about removing the

brain through the nose with a hook? Well,

here is what the hook looked like...

Anubis is the god of mummification

Isis Knot Amulet:

Protect body

A very important ritual during mummificaiton is

the "Weighing of the Heart."

A person needed a light heart to enter the afterlife. A light heart was earned during life by doing good deeds. The person's heart would be weighed against the "Feather of Truth" by Anubis and recorded by Thoth. If the heart was lighter than the feather of truth, that person would be allowed to enter the afterlife. If the heart was heavier, then Ammut the Devourer would eat you!!

Plummet Amulet:

keep body balanced

Scarab beetle: linked

with the creator god, Atum

Eye of Horus

These are examples of Amulets that would be buried with the mummy.

These small pieces of jewelry would be wrapped with the body to

offer good luck and/or protection for the mummy in the afterlife.

How about some pictures?

Let's do it....

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