The Egyptian Process of Mummification

The Egyptian Process of Mummification

In ancient Egyptian society, preserving a body after death was an

important process necessary for entrance into an immortal existence.

According to Egyptian belief the soul did not die. The soul would take the

form of a bird usually a falcon and fly around in the world of the living

returning later its dead body. The importance of preserving the body

revolved around the idea that the roaming soul would be able to recognize

the right body and return to it. As a result of this theology, Egyptians

developed an effective system of embalming.

The Egyptian embalming process was a significant and complicated

process performed by priests. Employing a crooked piece of iron the brain

would be removed through the nostrils. A sharp stone was used to cut open

the body and extract the intestines. Palm wine and spices were used to

purify the intestines. The chest and stomach areas would be filled with

myrrh, cinnamon, and other herbs. The body would be sewn up and immersed

in natron for seventy days. After the seventy days the body would be

washed and wrapped in linen from head to foot bound by a gum like substance.

Upon completion of this procedure the body would now be ready for burial.

Egyptians used other methods of embalment. One method attributed to the

lower class was to bury the body in the desert sand for a lengthy period of

time. The result of this method dried the skin of the body into a leathery

shell. Arab historian Abdel el Latif discovered on one of his expeditions

a rather unorthodox method of embalment. Latif and his team came across a

jar filled with honey. During a lunch break Latif and his party indulged

in the jar of honey until hair...

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...ns were stuffed into the

ears of the mummies and along the bandages although the significance of

this is still unknown.

The modern examination of mummies has enabled us to ascertain various

facts about everyday Egyptian life. The mummy of Maat-ka-re a virgin

priestess had for thousands of years been thought to have been mummified

with a child. Using X- ray technology the child turned out to be a

mummified baboon, one of her favourite pets. Examination of mummies

revealed that Egyptians were quite short. A considerable amount of infant

diseases are evident in children mummies. The life expectancy according to

the mummies was around forty. Average Egyptians encountered several dental

and health obstacles. Spinal arthritis was common as were typhoid and

brucellosis. Mummies serve as a tribute to ancient Egyptian society and

their technology.