Mummies

The dead body was collected and cleaned, and taken to the place of embalming called the wabet. The men doing the  "embalming" or preparing the body were highly respected.  In order to remove the internal organs, a long cut was made along the left side of the body. The internal organs are removed and embalmed separately. The heart, however, is left inside the body - it is used later.

LINEN - Strips of cloth. Egyptians saved linen their whole life to prepare.

A BODY - A freshly scrubbed and shaved body was sent to the embalmers.

PRIEST - A priest is in charge. He wore the mask of Anubis, the god of embalming.

NATRON SALT - dried the body out once the organs have been removed. Stronger than the salt we put on food.

CANOPIC JARS - Held the internal organs. They have gods on the lids and were placed in a special box near the body.

TOOLS/OILS - Tools to cut and clean were needed. Also, oils and spice were used to keep the body smelling nice.

The liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines were removed through a long cut along on the side of the body. These were placed inside canopic jars. The body was washed with wine and soaked in natron salt for 40 days to dry it out.

After 40 days in natron salt the body was dried out. Skin looked shriveled and wrinkled. It might look like beef jerky. It was then sent to the “per nefer” or beautiful house. There, the skin was washed again with oils and perfumes since the body would smell.  Sawdust and rags were placed where the organs used to be. Other parts of the body were plumped up by pushing mud into tiny cuts in the skin. False eyes, hair, and even make up were applied. The dead body almost looked human again.

Handy Hint: Using onions for fake eyeballs was common. They were stuffed in the body since they killed bacteria.

The embalmer’s work was almost done.  Now it was time to be wrapped.  It took 15 days and 20 layers of linen.  Glue held the layers of bandages together. Charms or jewels were added to the linen cloth.  They sometimes called these amulets.

Amulets provided magical protection against evil. The scarab beetle was the most important. It was supposed to eat the sins or bad deeds of the mummy.  

A funeral mask or portrait mask was made to look like the dead person.  It went over their head (outside the wrappings).  If they were rich, it was made of solid gold and other jewels.  If they did not have a lot of money, a painting would do that looked like them.

Now a good wooden coffin was needed. A rich pharaoh had as many as three coffins all fitting snuggly inside the other. They had pictures of their gods on them and plenty of hieroglyphics to sing his praises. With the mummy inside them, the coffins all fit into a sarcophagus. This was large and made of stone.  This was only for the VERY rich.

The person has been dead for approximately 70 days. It is time for the funeral. A funeral is a special ceremony to honor a dead person.  Mummies were buried on the west side of the Nile River.  

During the funeral, a priest led the ceremony.  He burned sweet smelling incense and recited prayers for the mummy.  Mourners were hired and paid professionals - mourners are people who are sad. Their job was to sob and cry loudly. They always dressed in blue. They also threw ashes on themselves.

Finally, the priest touched the mummy's lips with a special spoon. This was called the “opening of the mouth.” This allowed the human senses to be restored to the body and the mummy could go to the afterlife.

Anubis was the jackal headed god of embalming.  He supposedly weighed the heart against the feather of truth before the tomb door was sealed.  Ammut, a demon, eats the heart if it has bad deeds or sins. The special charm of the scarab beetle has an important job. It is supposed to keep all past sins a secret so the mummy can get to the afterlife and live forever. 

The tomb (large room for your body and belongings) is the final resting place.  It takes extra time and special care to finish. Paintings on the walls show how great the mummy was and wearing his best clothes. The Eye of Horus kept a watchful eye on the mummy. The tomb is also stocked with items needed in the after-life. Some would take favorite pets they had mummified to keep them company.  The room had furniture, games, clothes, food, weapons.... anything the mummy might need.  The Book of the Dead was a book of important prayers to help the mummy through tough times and give spells to use when needed. 

Now, the mummy was ready to enjoy life in eternal peace. And hopefully, grave robbers or tomb raiders don’t disturb his peaceful slumber.