Ancient Egyptian Mummification: Rituals and Process

The Significance of the False Beard

The "beard," often resembling a long, small beard, was worn on the chin and secured behind the ears. Craftsmen and merchants also belonged to this group, with many employed in domestic service. Egyptians were renowned as skilled artisans.

The Role of Priests

In service to religion, priests held significant power, accumulating substantial wealth within their temples. They also owned a large portion of the country's land.

The Mummification Process

Bodies underwent an extensive process where their intestines were extracted and placed in vessels known as "canopic jars." The bodies were then coated in various substances and meticulously wrapped in bandages to preserve their lifelike appearance.

Embalming the Body

Initially, the body was taken to a tent called the 'ibu' or the 'place of purification.' Here, embalmers cleansed the body with fragrant palm wine and rinsed it with Nile water. An incision was made on the left side of the body to remove many internal organs, as these decompose first. The heart remained, as it was considered the center of intelligence and feeling, needed in the afterlife.

The Four Sons of Horus and Canopic Jars

• Imsety, the human-headed god, protected the liver.
• Hapy, the baboon-headed god, guarded the lungs.
• Duamutef, the jackal-headed god, watched over the stomach.
• Qebehsenuef, the falcon-headed god, safeguarded the intestines.

The body was then covered and packed with natron for desiccation. All fluids and materials from embalming were preserved and buried with the body. After forty days, the body was rewashed with Nile water and coated with oils to maintain skin elasticity. The dehydrated organs were wrapped in linen and returned to the body, which was then filled with dry materials like sawdust, leaves, and linen to restore its form. Finally, it was anointed with fragrant oils, ready for wrapping.

Wrapping the Mummy

The head and neck were wrapped first with fine linen strips, followed by individual wrapping of fingers and toes. Arms and legs were wrapped separately. Amulets were placed between layers for protection during the underworld journey. A priest recited spells during wrapping to ward off evil spirits and aid the deceased's passage to the afterlife. The arms and legs were bound together, and a papyrus scroll containing spells from the Book of the Dead was placed between the wrapped hands.

More linen strips were wound around the body, each layer painted with liquid resin to bind them. A cloth was wrapped around the body, and an image of the god Osiris was painted on it. Finally, a large cloth was wrapped around the entire mummy, secured with linen strips. A painted wooden board was placed atop the mummy before it was placed into its coffin. The first coffin was then placed inside a second coffin.

The Funeral

A funeral was held for the deceased, and their family mourned their passing.