Mummification was the process of preparing the body for the afterlife. Mummification is a very long and complex process.The first step is embalming the body,
First, his body is taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There the embalmers wash his body with good-smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile.
One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose
The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines are washed and packed in natron which will dry them out. The heart is not taken out of the body because it is the centre of intelligence and feeling and the man will need it in the afterlife.A long hook is used to smash the brain and pull it out through the nose. The body is now covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out. All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process will be saved and buried along with the body. After forty days the body is washed again with water from the Nile. Then it is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.The dehydrated internal organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the body. The body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike. Finally the body is covered again with good-smelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen.
First, his body is taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There the embalmers wash his body with good-smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile.
One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose
The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines are washed and packed in natron which will dry them out. The heart is not taken out of the body because it is the centre of intelligence and feeling and the man will need it in the afterlife.A long hook is used to smash the brain and pull it out through the nose. The body is now covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out. All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process will be saved and buried along with the body. After forty days the body is washed again with water from the Nile. Then it is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.The dehydrated internal organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the body. The body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike. Finally the body is covered again with good-smelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen.
The second process is wrapping the body in linen to keep it from the air which while decompose it over time,
The organs are in jars designed to look like the God which protect them, for example Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomach. The body is wrapped with linen starting with head, feet and fingers individually. The whole body is wrapped and then amulets are placed inside which protect the body in its journey through the underworld. For example the 'Plummet' amulet which will keep the person balanced in the next life. (see picture to right)
The organs are in jars designed to look like the God which protect them, for example Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomach. The body is wrapped with linen starting with head, feet and fingers individually. The whole body is wrapped and then amulets are placed inside which protect the body in its journey through the underworld. For example the 'Plummet' amulet which will keep the person balanced in the next life. (see picture to right)
The reason that the ancient Egyptians mummified the body was so that they would be prepared for the afterlife. It was believed that after they were buried they would rise up and refill their body with the preserved organs and begin their journey through the underworld.