Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 1

THE CHANGE IN EGYPTIAN MUMMIFICATION PRACTICES DURING THE

CHRISTIAN PERIOD

by (Name)

The Name of the Class (Course)

Professor (Tutor)

The Name of the School (University)

The City and State where it is located

The Date
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 2

Table of Contents
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 3

Abstract
The Egyptian culture of burial have attracted global attention due to mummification process to

the dead. This paper defines mummification as the artificial preservation of dead human bodies

before burial. After mummification, the bodies are wrapped with items then buried. Through

centuries the mummification process has caught attention with many scholars and researchers

publishing articles and journals on this process. Much has been talked about on processes of

Egyptian mummification with relationship to Christianity. Therefore, this study analyzes the

impacts and correlation of Egyptian Mummification on Christianity.

 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 4

Introduction

The Egyptian mummification, was the procedure of preserving dead bodies in the

traditional Egyptian society. This was a funeral practice and belief involving covering of

significant body parts through desiccating it on dry sand and other procedures involved. The

desiccation of corpses involved the use artificial and natural preservatives such as glue.

Mummification is the strange Egyptian traditional feature intriguing personalities since the

inception of Roman Empire. This process enables us understand the ancient Egyptian culture

while presenting the world with critical analysis on the whole process through knowing how the

soft flesh and bones were preserved. The transformation of Egyptian mummification initiated the

Christianity procedures on corpses involving priests embalming the corpses. The use of coffins

in burying human corpses and removal of decaying organs while filling the sunken body parts

with linen and clothing to cover the corpses. This study analyzes and determines the roles of

Christianity and priests in Egyptian mummification process.

Literature Review

The Egyptian burial Christianity processes and rites have considerably transformed over

the centuries from the archeological evidence to the modernization practices. This transformation

has prompted critical analysis on understanding the effects of Christianity in the development of

mummification in Egypt. The integration of Egyptian culture and Christianity led to

development of mummification across the country with many Christians preferring culture over

their Christianity (Jeremiah, 2014). Notably, most of the global religions share similar cultures

and beliefs on burial of corpses. Mummification has critically transited to the modern culture

with many Christians believing that mummification linked the dead and living.
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 5

The Methods of Embalming the dead in Christianity Era

The ancient methods of embalming have transformed into the era of Christianity. In these

modifications and transformations, a lot of mummification procedures have changed with

various aspects being improved while others being terminated. During the early periods of

Christianity, viscera was placed on the thighs of corpses and void canopy jars were placed in

graves. The mummification procedures varied but most commonly some embalmers preserved

the remains of the dead by developing quality procedures of rites of passage. Some embalmers

used pictures of Isis and rhomboid coffers embroiled with golden studs (O’Connell, 2007 p.

263). Furthermore, bandages with different colors were combined with linen and wrapped

around the coffins. By the end of the third century, honey baths become popular in embalming

the corpses with natron and salt.

How Christian Period Beliefs Influence Egyptian Funerary Burial Customs

The Egyptian Christians believed in life after death hence developing new ideas for burial

rites and procedures as way of bidding farewell to the dead. They believed in continuation of life

after death hence many Christian graves being enshrined with cross as a sign of their religion.

Most Christian symbols were found in tombs in Egypt thus signifying the eternal life among the

dead. The Christians tombs were elaborately erected (Jeremiah, 2014). This is clearly revealed in

the Christian tombs among other religions in burial sites. In addition, Christian shared tombs in

burying their dead hence the influx of these religious symbols.

The Egyptian Christianity tried to differentiate itself from other traditional rituals which

were against their religious laws. The religious aspects of resurrection among Egyptian

Christians had impacts burial with most Christians believing in life after death and ascension at

the appointed time. For example, Saint Anthony at one time ordered his burial not to be
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 6

conducted in Egypt (Oras, et al., 2002). Through this distinction Christianity burials become

more distinguished from the other religions and paganism. Most Christian’s dishonored and

pagan burial rites and graves. This prompted to the evolution of mummification with many

Christians developing transitional phases such as presenting of gifts to the bereaved families.

However, Christian leaders developed requisite procedures for delivering final respect to their

dead.

Research Methodology

This study investigates the effects of Christianity in embalming and mummification of

corpses in Egypt. The paper analyses the processes, materials used for embalming and the

religious aspects of embalming dead corpses among other religion

Research Goals

The main objective of the research is to identify the effects of Christianity of

mummification and embalming.

Research Questions

In conducting research, the following questions were asked in the questionnaire.

a. How did religious beliefs affect Egyptian burial customs in Christian Period?

b. What are the methods used for embalming in Christian Period and their justifications?

c. What extent did new Christian Period beliefs influence Egyptian funerary burial

customs?
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 7

Methodology

The questionnaire method was used in collecting data for the research with a sample size

of 20 respondents being interviewed.

Discussion

The existence of an immortality principle for humans is postulated, and it is hypothesized

that the Egyptian civilization incorporated the immortality principle into their established

religion system. As a direct consequence of this, Egyptian burial practices were influenced by

Egyptian beliefs. Despite this, Egypt kept its practice of embalming and burial even after the

introduction of new religions like Christianity and others (Morris, 1989). In addition, the manner

in which an ancient Egyptian body was embalmed varied according to the social status of the

person who had died; this was not always the case.

In addition, the Egyptian religion saw believing in eternity and the hereafter less as a

dependable event and more as an endeavor to win some type of appeasement from the gods.

Therefore, research reveals the transformation procedures of mummification of corpses in

ancient Egypt. The transformation occurred for many centuries with Egyptian Christians leading

the evolution. This transformation saw the changes in mummification and embalming with many

materials being used in wrapping and covering corpses.

 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 8

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN BURIAL CUSTOMS

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
5000 BC 4000 BC 3000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC A.D

ANCIENT EGYPTYIAN BURIAL CUSTOMS CHRISTINIATY (%)

ANCIENT EGYPTYIAN BURIAL CUSTOMS PAGANISM (%)

Fig. 1 Ancient Egyptian Christianity and Paganism Burial Customs

It is hypothesized that the traditional method of embalming underwent some

modifications in the time period of the Christian era. On the other hand, there were a number of

things that shifted while others remained the same (Assmann, 2011). For instance, the quality of

the linen wrappings became better with time, and the shroud was frequently embellished with

intricate depictions of Isis and Nephthys or scenes from one of the burial texts. In this period of

transition, the use of mummy labels by Christians should be understood as a residual practice.

Over time, this practice gradually took on Christian overtones, much like the

mummification process itself did; however, it eventually differentiated itself into its own practice

and eventually died out. The research found out the evolution of mummification procedures from

ancient to complex and modernized procedures of mummification to burial rites. The research

denoted the evolution on the wrapping materials for the dead bodies to the use of personal

clothes in burying corpses (Tovar, 2013). The issue of eternal life emanated in the research with

Christians building religious tombs hence signifying resurrection and life after death.
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 9

EVOLUTION OF EGYPTIAN MUMMIFICATION

AND MATERIALS USED
120

100

80

60

40

20

0
5000 BC 4000 BC 3000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC A.D

EVOLUTION OF EGYPTIAN MUMMIFICATION AND MATERIALS USED CHRISTINIATY (%)

EVOLUTION OF EGYPTIAN MUMMIFICATION AND MATERIALS USED PAGANISM (%)

Fig. 2. Mummification in Ancient Egypt and Materials used.

The mummification procedures among Christians contrasted with other traditions and

religions. Although Buddhism was almost similar to the Christianity procedures, there few

contrasting features separating them. Furthermore, the Christian opposed paganism

mummification procedures due to their holy commandments (Dundad and Zivie, 2004). It is

speculated that the new ideas that emerged throughout the Christian period had an impact on the

Egyptian funeral burial practices. As a direct consequence of this, a number of graves exhibit a

synthesis of pagan and Christian ideas (Oras et al., 2002). The presentation of amulets and

lamps, as well as the utilization of the 'ankh,' a symbol that was rapidly appropriated by

Christians as the sign of the cross in their religion. Mummy labels, on the other hand, are

frequently interpreted as proof that Christians still practice the ancient practice of

mummification. However, it is not always simple to ascertain whether or not a certain mummy

label is, in fact, Christian. In addition to this, they used a communal tomb the majority of the
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 10

time, which may help to explain why Christian symbols may be found alongside ancient

Egyptian rituals.

IMPACTS OF CHRISTIANITY IN EGYPTIAN

MUMMIFICATION
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
5000 BC 4000 BC 3000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC A.D

Fig. 3. Impacts of Christianity on Egyptian Mummifications.

Conclusions

The Egyptian mummifications and embalming of corpses had taken roots in the country

but were overshadowed by Christianity burial ritual and rites. The transformation of many

individuals to Christianity prompted the change for paganism burial rites to Christianity burial

procedures with religious attachment. The Christian religious attachment such as resurrection

and eternal life took center stage in mummification and embalming of bodies with significant

symbols identifying trinity being constructed on Christian tombs. The archeological sites of

Egyptian tombs reveals the transformation and evolution of mummification and embalmment of
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 11

corpses. The continuous inception of different religions such as Coptic, Buddhism Islam

developed new ideas of mummifying and embalming of corpses. These new ideas necessitate

decline of paganism worship and embalmment rituals with new practices such as dressing the

corpses with formal being initiated. The marking of Egyptian Christian mummies revealed the

religious manifestations thus influencing burial procedures and rites. However, further research

need to be conducted on the influence of Christianity and Islam in mummification of corpses in

Egypt.
 Mummification and Burial Practices in Egypt 12

References

Assmann, J. (2011). Death and salvation in ancient Egypt. Cornell University Press. 
 
Dunand, F., Zivie-Coche, C. (2004). Gods and men in Egypt: 3000 BCE to 395 CE. Cornell
University Press. 
Ikram, S. (2003). Death and burial in ancient Egypt. Longman Publishing Group. 
 
Jeremiaj, K. J. (2014). Eternal remains: World mummification and the beliefs that make it
necessary. First Edition Design Pub. 

Morris, I. (1989). Attitudes toward death in archaic Greece. Classical Antiquity, 8(2), 296-320.
https://doi.org/10.2307/25010911 
 
O'Connell, E. R. (2007). Transforming monumental landscapes in late antique Egypt: Monastic
dwellings in legal documents from western Thebes. Journal of Early Christian Studies, 15(2),
239-273. https://doi.org/10.1353/earl.2007.0036 
  
Oras, E., Anderson, J., Tõrv, M., Vahur, S., Rammo, R., Remmer, S., Mölder, M., Malve, M.,
Saag, L., Saage, R., Teearu-Ojakäär, A., Peets, P., Tambets, K., Metspalu, M.,  
Porten, B., Lund, J. A. (2002). Aramaic documents from Egypt: A key-word-in-context
concordance. Eisenbrauns. 

Scott-Moncrieff, P. D. (1913). Paganism and Christianity in Egypt. 

 
Tovar, S. T. (2013). Egyptian burial practices in late Antiquity: the case of Christian Mummy
Labels. Cultures in Contact: Transfer of Knowledge in the Mediterranean Context. Selected
Papers, 13-24.