egyptian mummification

By Jessica DaviesAPP 101

Egyptian Mummificatio

n

What is Mummification? Mummification is the act of preparing a body for burial by

embalming and wrapping the corpse

Created to help preserve body while in coffins

Two step process: embalming and wrapping

Embalming Start with purification of

body

Use palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile

Next internal organs are removed to be dried

Heart is left in body because it is the center of intelligence and feeling which is needed in afterlife

Brain is removed with a long hook through the nose

Embalming (cont.)

Body is covered with natron for 40 days to dry it out

Then is washed with Nile water and covered with oils

Internal organs are then put into four different jars called Canopic Jars

Canopic Jars are to help protect internal organs for the after life

Canopic Jars

Canopic Jars(cont.)

Wrapping

Head and neck are wrapped with strips of fine linen

Fingers and the toes are individually wrapped

Arms and legs are wrapped separately

Between the layers amulets are placed to protect body in journey through the underworld.

During the process, priests read spells out to ward off evil spirits

Amulets

Wrapping(cont.) Arms and legs tied

together with papyrus scroll (with spells from the Book of the Dead) placed between hands

More layers added and coated with liquid resin to help glue bandages together

Cloth with picture of the God Osiris(God of the Underworld) on it covers the now wrapped body

Finally, a large cloth is wrapped around entire mummy and then placed inside two coffins

Book of the Dead

Commonly thought of as a book of death spells

Actually is a book of spells that are supposed to assist in the journey of the spirit to the underworld

Certain spells were chosen by loved ones to be placed on the scroll that goes in the coffin with the mummy

Final Burial Process 'Opening of the Mouth' ritual is performed which allows the spirit to

eat and drink again

The body and its coffin is then placed in a sarcophagus and into its final tomb

Everything someone might need is then placed into tomb

The body is now ready to travel to the underworld where the heart will be judged on the good deeds done on earth to determine if they receive entry for eternal life in the beautiful ‘Field of Reeds’