1. Embalming and the Creation of Mummies

2. Objective
To understand certain aspects of Egyptian religion, specifically, why mummies were created and how this process was carried out

3. The Afterlife
One major aspect of Egyptian religion was the belief in life after death
To ensure this, the body must be preserved so that the soul (ka) has a place to live after death
Human bodies decay naturally, so steps must be taken to preserve the body
no preservation = no afterlife

4. Embalming= still done today
Mummification = only took place in Ancient Egypt

5. Mummification Embalming is the process used to preserve a dead body
This was very time consuming and expensive, so this was usually limited to the powerful and wealthy
Took 70 days to complete, done by priests

6. Mummification Anubis- God of Mummification
Priests wore Jackal masks during parts of the mummification process to symbolize this god

7. Step 1- Purify the body
Body would be washed once with water, and a second time with natron
Natron- dehydrates, preserves

8. Step 2- Handle the Brain
Remove brain and discard, as it was believed that the brain had no importance and was simply stuffing for the head
How to remove the brain? Get creative!
Brain cavity then filled with sawdust, resin, and linen

9. Step 3- Deal with the organs
“Slicer” Priest makes long incision down left side of body
Major organs (liver, kidneys, intestines, etc) were removed through an incision in the abdomen
These would be embalmed separately and stored in Canopic Jars

10. Canopic Jars Intestines put in falcon jar Lungs put in Baboon Jar
Liver Put in Jar with Human Head
Stomach but in Jackal Jar
All Organs Dried in Natron before being placed in jars

11. What about the heart? Never removed from body
Believed to be where intelligence and emotion came from
Played a role in a person’s entry into the afterlife

12. Step 4- Deal with the Body
Body cavity is washed out
Body is folded and put in a large jar filled with natron to remove fatty tissue and peel away muscle
Body remains in jar for 40 days and comes out 75% lighter in weight

13. Step 5- Stuff the body
After the body comes out of the natron, it is rinsed and dried
Body cavity is filled with linen scraps, resin, bags of natron, and sawdust in order to maintain its’ shape
Body is then sewn shut or sealed with wax
Face is “plumped up” with mud inserted through tiny cuts in skin
False Eyes are created using onions
A wig might be created if the dead person is wealthy enough.

14. Step 6- Wrap it up
Next comes a 15 day process of wrapping the body in strips of linen
20 layers of wrapping needed
Started with hands and feet
A huge amount of linen was used, up to 450 square feet!
Amulets with special powers were often inserted between the layers

15. “Extras” for the Wealthy
Amulets made from gold and silver to be wrapped in the linen
Finger and Toe Stalls made of gold to protect these important body parts
Portrait Mask to be placed over the bandages

16. A Mummy

17. Step 7- Mask
When wrapping is completed, the mummy is fitted with a burial mask
Pharaoh- Gold
Others- cartonnage (paper mache)

18. Step 7- Sarcophagus
Again, usually limited to pharaohs and very wealthy
It is essentially a coffin, and was meant to further aid in the preservation of the body
Often three coffins that “nest” together
Persons name and many compliments about the person are written on the coffins

19. Coffins
Coffins were painted inside and out. Inside: prayers, incantations, maps of the underworld. Outside: likeness of the dead person.

20. Eyes of Horus
Two “udjats” (eyes of horus) painted on inside near head so mummy could see out.

21. Step 8- Entomb!
The mummy would then be placed in a Stone tomb, which depending on the time period could be above or below ground
Tombs are painted with pictures showing people enjoying the afterlife

22. Tomb Rooms

23. Goods for the Afterlife
Fill Tomb with all items that were needed in life to make the afterlife more pleasurable
Food
Entertainment
Pets
Household items
Shabitis (small figurines of servants to serve people in the afterlife)

24. Shabitis

25. Travel Guide to the underworld As many of 190 different “chapters”
Book of the Dead
Collection of prayers, passwords, spells, and advice collected over 100’s of years
Travel Guide to the underworld
As many of 190 different “chapters”

26. Collection of Spells from the Book of the Dead
For causing a Shabti to do work for a man in the realm of the dead
For going out into the day after opening the tomb
For not permitting a mans heart to be taken from him in the realm of the dead
For repelling a beetle
For driving off a snake
For drinking water and not being burnt by fire

27. Book of the Dead

28. Book of the Dead

29. Funeral Happens about 70 days after a person dies
All mourners are dressed in blue and many are hired professionals because they wail loudly and throw ash on themselves. Social status gauged by the number of people present
Burial is on the west side of the Nile

30. Mourners

31. Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
Several priests needed to chant prayers
One priest raises an adze to touch the coffins mouth
All of the senses are restored to the mummy for the afterlife!

32. Osiris

33. High Tech Scans and X-Rays

34. Real Mummies

35. Ramses

36. Video Links Mummification video Zahi Hawass on mummification
Screaming Man Video