What is mummification?
Mummification is a way of preserving a body, which can be done to animals or humans. Some mummies are preserved wet, frozen, or dry. This is a natural process but it can be deliberately achieved.
Making a mummy
To make a mummy the Egyptians first checked that you were actually dead by shouting at you. Then they washed you in salt water and in embalmers. Your brain is then yanked out through your nose with a specially designed hook - then just got thrown away. Your lungs, stomach, liver and your intestines were then taken out and were put in canopic jars which would be buried with you in your tomb. Then you were covered a salt mixture called natron and were left for about a month. Natron was a natural substance that is found on the abundance of the Nile. It is made up of a mixture of salts, which act together as a drying agent. This procedure sucks out all your moisture left in your body and when you have got rid of the moisture you have eliminated all the sources of decay. By this time you wouldn't look good so your skin was softened with oil, then you were stuffed with sawdust to reform your former shape. Onions were also sometimes used to make some false eyes. Your body was then parcelled in up to twenty layers of linen. The bandages were glued together using goo that that turned you rock - hard and waterproof. Sometimes limbs fell off during the whole process so wooden ones were put on instead. Your body was then snugly popped into its sarcophagus (a stone coffin) and taken to your tomb.
Coffins And Cases
When the Egyptians had finished making the mummy they placed it in a coffin, to give it extra protection. The earliest coffins were just simply made of reeds or wood, but later they were decorated beautifully.
Early coffins were a simple rectangular shape, but they later became shaped like people probably to make it look more realistic. The mummies of wealthier Egyptians were cased in more than one coffin to keep it well protected. The pharaoh's coffins were probably decorated with silver and even gold. The outermost coffin of a pharaoh was called the sarcophagus, which was made of stone. The first sarcophagus' that were made were just a heavy rectangular box that was undecorated which made it look dull. Later they were carved with pictures of goddesses, one guarding each corner. By 2,500 years ago the human-shaped sarcophagus was a completely different thing and had become fashionable.
The Pharaoh makes his last journey
Two royal women said prayers of rebirth to the Pharaohs mummy. They were representing Isis and her sister, who had brought Osiris to life. When the priests took the mummy away for its funeral, the women played the roles of frantic mourners and tried to stop them. For its journey to the tomb the mummy was set on a boat - shaped bier, which was mounted onto a sledge so that it could be pulled along. The mummy went by boat on the Nile and along a canal to a temple. After the funeral was held here it was taken to the Valley of the Kings and buried in a pyramid. A small party descended to the burial chamber the before the sarcophagus was sealed the queen placed a collar of flowers round the coffin neck.
The Afterlife
No respected person or person of a high rank would be buried without the right afterlife accessories. Most people where buried in coffins first and the rich people were buried in up to three coffins for protection. The coffins where decorated with hieroglyphics that said things about your life, and spells to help you in the afterlife. Respected people were usually buried with something to read for example a scroll of spells and prayers, which was named the book of the dead. This would help your spirit through the underworld to get to the safety and peace of the afterlife. They were also buried with some method of transport such as a model boat or chariot to get around in. They were buried with games as well to keep themselves entertained. Lots of Egyptians were buried with a senet set - an Egyptian type of ludo. Also they were buried with furniture and servants in the afterlife these models will come to life and serve you. Some pharaohs were buried with whole model armies. Another thing you had to have was food for the journey Such as a hamper of figs, bread, and some meat. Some unlucky pets were mummified just to keep their owners company.
The Egyptians believed that before you where allowed into the afterlife you had to pass a dangerous zone called the duat. The dangers here where monsters and boiling rivers of fire. However these monsters could be avoided if you took the right shortcuts or used the right prayers from the book of the dead. If they got past the duat they'd reach the gates of Yaru (the Egyptian afterlife). But first they had to pass the greatest test of all in the hall of two truths.
In the hall of two truths your heart was placed on one side of the scales of justice and the feather of truth on the other. Three gods - Osiris, Anubis and Thoth - judged the result. Egyptians believed that the heart held the weight of a person's conscience. If that person had been good his heart would be lighter than a feather and he'd be allowed through to the gates of Yaru. But if their heart was weighed down by sin, it would be heavier than the feather and he would be eaten by Ammut - who was part crocodile, part hippo and part lion - ate your heart, you were lost forever.
The Egyptian Gods
Ra - The Sun God. Some said he had made the Egyptian people. It is said when Ra shone his light on the afterlife, mummies came to life
Isis - The wife of Osiris who took care of all women and children. She was thought to be the most powerful magician in the whole universe
Thoth - The ibis - headed god of wisdom who invented writing and speaking. His job was to write down everything that happened.
Osiris - The god of death, rebirth, the underworld and the Earth. Long ago he taught people to farm. His brother Seth murdered him, but his wife Isis brought him back to life. Because he was the first god to die, he became lord of the dead.
Hathor - the cow - horned goddess of love. She also looked after happiness, dancing and music.
Anubis - The jackal headed god of the dead. He helped make mummies and embalmed the first one ever, Osiris. He also judged the scales of truth.
Ptah - the god who spoke the names of all things in the world. By doing this he made them exist. His job was making bodies in which men's souls could live in the afterlife.
Sobek - the crocodile headed god. He controlled the water supplies. In the book of the dead, Sobek helped destroy Seth.
Seth - the god of the desert and storms. Enemy of his brother Osiris
Bes - the dwarf - god of happiness and protector of the family. Bes was also a children's entertainer.
Horus - the falcon - headed god. He looked after pharaohs and was king of the living. He also defeated evil Seth.
