Mummification

- Introduction
Mummification is one of the most important subjects of the ancient
Egyptian history as it is the core of the religious beliefs.
- The idea of mummification came to light when the Ancient Egyptians
noticed the cycle of the sun starting with sun rise and ending with the
sunset, so as to the Nile cycle and the plant cycle and so on. They
began to think that this will happen to them, which means that there
will be a life after death. They also began to think that there will be a
life after death when they see their dead people in their dreams, so
they knew that they are already live in another place. This was the 1st
point of the idea of resurrection in ancient Egypt.
- The idea of resurrection which became the core of the Egyptian
civilization needed the preservation of the body as long as they can, so
it will be resurrected.
- The preservation of the body is essential for resurrection to enable
the Ba to recognize its owner. This is because the Ka situated in the
tomb, so if the body decayed, it will be difficult to recognize the body
and this will prevent resurrection. The preservation of the body is
important to enjoy the offerings being offered ton the body of the
deceased.
- They also recognized that the human being consists of 7 elements, and
missing any of them, there would be no rebirth. Among these elements is
the body Xt.

- Development of mummification
- The ancient Egyptians knew 2 main kinds of mummifications, the
natural and the artificial mummification.
- The natural one is the oldest one as it was known since the pre-
dynastic periods. This was made by putting the body in pit in the
desert to preserve it, so the sand and the climate will help in drying
the body, so it will be preserved. This was then developed to preserve
the body from the wild animals, which could eat it, by making
mastabas which then developed to the pyramids as tombs.
- The artificial mummification is the 2nd process to preserve the body.
This happened after many trials to preserve the body by removing the
internal organs or the viscera. We found remains of a mummy inside
the 3rd pyramid of Zoser at Saqqara. But we have to notice that
mummification did not reach its peak at that time. It started to
decrease during the time of the 1st intermediate period and the time
of the Hyksos according to the circumstances of Egypt.

1
- The mummification reached its peak during the new kingdom when
they knew a lot about Anatomy, Chemistry and Biology. This can be
known from the number of mummies preserved date to this era.
- By the time of Christianity, the process disappeared and became
just a memory.

- The main principles and steps of mummification

- The main principle of mummification is the dehydration of the body,

so the bacteria can't stay at the surface of the body and cause its
decay
1- Washing and purifying the body by taking it to a tent called Ibu or
the house of purification. Then the body is washed with Natron salt,
Nile water and palm oil.

2- Making incision in the left part of the abdomen to remove the

viscera and clean all the cavities. They remove lungs, stomach, liver
and intestines.

3- The heart has to be mostly left because it is the residence of wisdom,

intelligence and charity and it is the part which will be judged in the
afterlife in the court of Osiris. The brain was mostly smashed by a long
hook through the nose, or in other cases they inject the skull by some
kind of oil, so the brain will be in a liquid state. The viscera then
washed by palm wine and spice to preserve them

4- The viscera then put in solid Natron and then left for 40 days. Then
they put it either in 1- canopic jars 2- small coffin 3- being wrapped
and then put inside the body which was in rare cases. The canopic jars
had the stoppers with the shapes of the 4 sons of Horus: Hapi, Imsty,
Duamutef and Qbehsnuef.

5- The dehydration of the body is the most important step among all
as it is the main process. This was by putting the body of the deceased
on a slopping bed to make the water easily removed. This operation
takes 40 days of 70 days after removing the organs. The rest 30 days
were for the preparation of the tomb and the rest of the
mummification process. Then the body was tied with linen to squeeze
it from liquids and after that they put a lot of Natron salt in the body
to dry it.

6- Then comes the removing of the temporary stuffing materials. They

stuffed the body with resin or with linen socked with risen. Then all

2
the openings of the body were closed by bee wax inscribed with the
Wdjat eyes as a sign of protection.

7- Then began anointing the body by putting Myrrh, Cedar oil and
perfumes to the smell better. These also were to give the skin its
elasticity.

8- Then comes packing of the face openings as the mouth, ears and
nose were packed with bee wax or linen socked in molten resin. The
eye balls were slightly pressed down and covered with linen socked
with molten resin and then they draw the eyelid over them, so they
look like real eyes.

9- Smearing the whole skin with molten resin in order to strengthen

the body and to prevent microorganisms from penetrating the body.

10- Adoring and bandaging the body with precious jewellery and
amulets. The mummy of king Tutankhamun contained 143 amulets
and jewelry. Some kings were afraid about this jewellery to be
robbed, so they made a cachette inside the tomb. The body was then
wrapped in linen from the head to the toes. Between the wrappings
they put roll of papyrus with chapters from the book of the dead.
Between the wrappings they put gum to make them so sticky to each
other.

- The mummification tools and materials

- it was believed that all the materials which were used in the process
of mummification were grown from the tears of the gods at the death
of Osiris and they were used to give power to the deceased.

- The materials of mummification

1- Natron salt from wadi al Natron, this salt called nTr in hieroglyphic
and was used in the dehydration of the body.
2- Sawdust were in the body cavities
3- Stuffing materials out of linen, resin and Natron
4- Ointment and perfumes
5- Bee wax
6- Myrrh and gum

- Tools used in mummification

- There were many tools used in the mummification process such as,
1- Scissors, cutters, tweezers and spoon for making the incision and
extracting the viscera and separating the organs.

3
2- Needles for the wound sewing
3- Chisel for breaking the bones of nose
4- Hook to extract the brain through the nose
5- Gold cover to cover the cut at the left part of the body
6- Amulets to be placed between the linen bandages for protection
7- Brushes for cleaning the whole body from inside

- The coffins
Coffin was one of the most important things for the deceased as it is a
preservation box for the body after death from any danger. Coffins
differed in shape and decorations through history. The main scene of
decoration of the coffins was for goddess Nut, the sky goddess appears
on the lid and the inner part of the coffin spreading her wings as a
sign of protection. Goddesses Isis and Nephtys so as to the 4 sons of
Horus appeared on the 2 sides of the coffin. The Udjat eyes were also
shown for protection so as the 2 eyes to communicate with the outer
world. Also we see false door to enable the spirit to go in and out freely.

- The funeral procession

- When the mummification process was completed, the mummy had to
be taken across the Nile to its burial place. It is placed in a richly
decorated bark. Relatives and friends assembled to greet him for the
last time. Near the mummy are mourning women and his wife.
- The funerary priests made offerings and burning incense before the
mummy. Then the body was put on a sledge pulled by men or oxen.
Then the needed rituals were performed before the mummy, such as
the opening of the mouth. Then pouring for the sacred water before
the sledge and recitation from the priests book while his wife
mourning him saying "You, great one, I'm now far from you".
- Behind the coffin are male mourners and then came another sledge
carrying 4 Canopic jars and servants carrying needed things for the
deceased like food, clothes and furniture.
- The procession then takes its way to the burial chamber. All these
rituals were performed by the sm priest.

- The opening of the mouth ceremony

- After all these steps, the religious ritual of the opening of the mouth
has to be performed. They used the stp tool which means "to select
"and anx sign of life. These tools were used so as the deceased will
recover all of his senses in the afterlife. They point using these tools to
his eyes, ears, nose legs, hands and mouth. This ritual was to be
performed by the high priest or the successor of the king in the royal

4
cases. It is one of the most important death rituals was practiced in
ancient Egypt. It was named wpt-r or wn-r , means opining of the mouth.
The ancient Egyptian believed that in order for the person to life after
death, he needs food and water.
Thus, this specific ritual was practiced in order to revive the Ka of the
deceased to make it eat, drink and speak in the afterlife.

- Mummified animals
- The ancient Egyptians worshipped animals for 2 main purposes,
either to gain from their benefits, such as the cow, or to be protected
from their harm such as the lion and snake. These animals were viewed
not only as pets, but as incarnation for the gods, such as the bull for
Ptah and the ram for Amun. For this reason, they buried millions of
animals, cats and birds inside the temples. This can be seen in the
temple of Kom-Ombo where we see crocodiles buried beside the
temple.
- In some temples, only a single animal would be kept while some cults
required a large number of animals which might be Ibises, Baboons,
Falcons, Crocodiles and cats.
- At the beginning, they only mummified the sacred animal that died
within the enclosure wall of the temple. After that they began to
mummify all animals without distinguishing whether they died inside
or outside the temples.