Mummification In Ancient Egypt

Egyptians believed that people had to be mummified to live forever. They thought that after the person was dead their soul became something different. Reports indicate that the soul took the shape of a bird. Egyptians saw heaven as paradise. They often called heaven the "Field of Reeds" where people grew crops. They thought the crops grew a foot taller in heaven. Mummification is a long and sacred part of Egyptian history. This essay will help outline the mummification and burial process often performed only for the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.

For centuries mummification was a wonderful and great privilege enjoyed by the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. From about 2500 B.C. many more people were able to hope for immortality by having themselves embalmed. Mummification remained an expensive business, well beyond most Egyptians. The process of mummification preserves the body so it won 't rot away. It is also called embalming. After the person was dead the embalmer would take out the internal organs; intestines, lungs, stomach, and liver. Perhaps the most well known method was the use of Canopic Jars. These were used to hold the lungs, liver, stomach and intestines of the deceased. Initially these jars had a lid that represented the deceased, or the
The first 40 days were dedicated to removing every single drop of moisture from the body to leave no breeding ground for the bacteria to cause decay. The brain was removed first followed by the internal organs. Then the body was covered in natron, a kind of natural salt made of baking soda. The body was covered with oils and resins and finally wrapped tightly in linen bandages many times over. In certain burials, such as those of the Pharaohs, the provision for the protection of the internal organs was often more sophisticated. The embalmed organs were placed inside the coffins, which were then put into an alabaster canopic chest with the four stoppers carved with the Pharaohs