Why ancient egyptians mummified

The first step in the process was the removal of all internal parts that might decay rapidly. The brain was removed by carefully inserting special hooked instruments up through the nostrils in order to pull out bits of brain tissue.

It was a delicate operation, one which could easily disfigure the face. The embalmers then removed the organs of the abdomen and chest through a cut usually made on the left side of the abdomen. They left only the heart in place, believing it to be the center of a person's being and intelligence.

The other organs were preserved separately, with the stomach, liver, lungs, and intestines placed in special boxes or jars today called canopic jars. These were buried with the mummy.

In later mummies, the organs were treated, wrapped, and replaced within the body. Even so, unused canopic jars continued to be part of the burial ritual.

The embalmers next removed all moisture from the body. This they did by covering the body with natron, a type of salt which has great drying properties, and by placing additional natron packets inside the body. When the body had dried out completely, embalmers removed the internal packets and lightly washed the natron off the body. The result was a very dried-out but recognizable human form. To make the mummy seem even more life-like, sunken areas of the body were filled out with linen and other materials and false eyes were added.

Next the wrapping began. Each mummy needed hundreds of yards of linen. The priests carefully wound the long strips of linen around the body, sometimes even wrapping each finger and toe separately before wrapping the entire hand or foot. In order to protect the dead from mishap, amulets were placed among the wrappings and prayers and magical words written on some of the linen strips.

Often the priests placed a mask of the person's face between the layers of head bandages. At several stages the form was coated with warm resin and the wrapping resumed once again. At last, the priests wrapped the final cloth or shroud in place and secured it with linen strips.

The mummy was complete. The priests preparing the mummy were not the only ones busy during this time. Although the tomb preparation usually had begun long before the person's actual death, now there was a deadline, and craftsmen, workers, and artists worked quickly. There was much to be placed in the tomb that a person would need in the Afterlife. Furniture and statuettes were readied; wall paintings of religious or daily scenes were prepared; and lists of food or prayers finished.

Through a magical process, these models, pictures, and lists would become the real thing when needed in the Afterlife. Everything was now ready for the funeral. As part of the funeral, priests performed special religious rites at the tomb's entrance. The most important part of the ceremony was called the "Opening of the Mouth.

By touching the instrument to the mouth, the dead person could now speak and eat. He was now ready for his journey to the Afterlife. A cut was made on the left side of the abdomen and the internal organs — intestines, liver, lungs, stomach, were removed.

The heart, which the Ancient Egyptians believed to be the center of emotion and intelligence, was left in the body for use in the next life. A hooked instrument was used to remove the brain through the nose. The brain was not considered to be important and was thrown away. The body and the internal organs were packed with natron salt for forty days to remove all moisture. The dried organs were wrapped in linen and placed in canopic jars.

The body was wrapped in linen bandages. About 20 layers were used and this took 15 to 20 days. The bandaged body was placed in a shroud a large sheet of cloth which was secured with linen strips. If the body was destroyed, the spirit could be lost and not make its entrance into the afterlife. This is also why tomb preparation was a crucial ritual in Egyptian society. Though the practice of mummification began in Egypt around B. These attitudes slowly shifted around B. A study on the materials used during the mummification procedure in ancient Egypt revealed that the process took 70 days.

During this time, priests worked as embalmers and performed rituals and prayers in addition to treating and wrapping the body. The general steps involved in the mummification process are as follows: First, internal body parts that could decay, such as the brain, are removed. The next step involved removing all the moisture from the body by covering the body with natron , a type of salt that acted as a preservative and drying agent. Wrapping up the corpse was the last step in the procedure and involved more than a hundred yards of linen, smeared over with gum.

Because mummification was expensive, cheaper alternatives were offered for the poor. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus described three different mummification methods based on social class that were offered by embalmers of the day. The brain was drawn out through the nostrils using a crooked piece of iron. Contents of the belly were taken out and the interior was cleaned using palm-wine and aromatics. The belly was filled with pure myrrh , cassia and other spices and then sewn together again.

The body was washed and rolled up in fine linen and covered over with gum. Finally, the mummified corpse was returned to family members.