MUMIFICATION

Mummification in ancient Egypt was a very long and expensive process. From start to finish,
it took about seventy days to embalm a body. Since the Egyptians believed that
mummification was essential for passage to the afterlife, people were mummified and buried
as well as they could possibly afford. High-ranking officials, priests and other nobles who
had served the pharaoh and his queen had fairly elaborate burials. The pharaohs, who were
believed to become gods when they died, had the most magnificent burial of all. In the case
of a royal or noble burial, the embalmers set up workshops near the tomb of the mummy.
Mummification consisted of many steps. First, the body was washed and ritually purified. The
next step was to remove the deceased person's inner organs. A slit was cut into the left
side of the body so that the embalmers could remove the intestines, the liver, the stomach
and the lungs. Each of these organs was embalmed using natron, which served to dry out the
organs and discourage bacteria from decaying the tissues. The organs were then individually
wrapped using long strips of linen and placed in canopic jars. The lids of these jars were
fashioned after the four sons of Horus, who were each entrusted with protecting a
particular organ. After the removal of the inner organs, the body cavity was stuffed with
natron. The brain was then removed through the nose using long hooks. Since the ancient
Egyptians considered the brain unimportant, it was probably thrown away. The body was then
place on a slanted embalming table and completely covered with natron. This allowed fluids
to drip away as the body slowly dried out. This part of the process took about forty days,
after which the natron was removed, inside and out, to reveal a dried, shrunken body. After
another cleaning, the body was rubbed with ungents to aid in preserving the mummy's skin.
The head and body cavity were stuffed with packing. The mummy was then prepared for
bandaging. First, the embalming cut in the side of the body was sewn up and covered with a
patching depicting the protective eye of Horus. The body was adorned with gold, jewels and
protective amulets. Fingers and toes were covered with protective gold caps and individually
wrapped with long, narrow strips of linen. Arms and legs were also wrapped, then the entire
body was wrapped to a depth of about twenty layers. The embalmers used resin to glue the
layers of wrappings together. The wrapped head was covered with a mummy mask. Finally,
the last layer of bandages went on and was given one last coating of resin. The mummy was
the ready for burial. Once the mummy was finally prepared, it was time for the funeral. The
mummy and its canopic jars were transported by sled from the embalming tent to the tomb.
People were hired to demonstrate their grief by crying and throwing dust on their hair. At
the site of the tomb, religious ceremonies were held to prepare the dead for the afterlife.
In particular, the Opening of the Mouth ceremony was believed to allow the mummy to see,
hear, eat and drink in the spirit world.

Ramesses II, Pharaoh who fought Mosesnewpage2.htm