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Mummies are the preserved bodies of people or animals. The word was first used to describe the bandaged bodies of Ancient Egyptians. But any dead body that still has skin on it is a mummy. If people die or are buried in the right conditions, they may be mummified(preserved). Most cultures believe in some kind of afterlife (life after death). By preserving a dead persons body in a recognizable form, they hope to prepare him or her for a better future life. What’s a mummy??
Mummification was reserved for the richest and most powerful in Egyptian society. The process was long and expensive. There were three main people who took part in this process; the scribe, the cutter, and the embalmer. Who could do the mummification procces????
Embalming • First, the body is taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There, the embalmers wash the body with good-smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile. • One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose. • The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines are washed and packed in natron which will dry them out. The heart is not taken out of the body because it is the centre of intelligence and feeling and the Egyptians thought the man will need it in the afterlife • A long hook is then out up the nose to smash the brain and pulled out thorough the nose. • The body is now covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out. All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process will be saved and buried along with the body • After about 40 days, the body is washed again with water from the Nile, then it’s covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.
7) The internal organs that are dehydrated and wrapped in linen are put back into the body. The body is then stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves, and linen so that it looks lifelike. 8) Now the body is covered with good-smelling oils and is ready to be wrapped in linen. Wrapping 1) first the head and neck are wrapped in linen, then the fingers and toes are individually wrapped. 2) The arms and legs are wrapped separately. Between the layers of wrapping, the embalmers place amulets to protect the body in its journey through the underworld. The 'Isis knot' amulet is to protect the body. The 'Plummet' amulet is to keep the person balanced in their next life. 3) A priest usually reads spells out loud while the mummy is being wrapped. These spells will help ward off evil spirits and help the person make it to the afterlife. The arms and legs are tied together. A papyrus scroll with spells from the Book of the Dead is placed in between the wrapped hands. 4) The body is wrapped again, then a cloth covers it, then it is wrapped again and is put in a coffin.
Back the the person that can be mummified is the kings in Egypt. But now in these day’s basically any Egyptian who could afford to pay for the expensive process of preserving their bodies for the afterlife can be mummified. The mummification process started in Egypt at around 3,300 BCE The mummification process started because the Ancient Egyptians used to bury their dead in the sand but later they thought that if the mummified the body in linen the body will be preserved better. Who can BE mummified When and why did this practice start?
The ancient Egyptians used to mummify bodies so that the people could make it to the afterlife safely, but now people still mummify but they do it a little differently. Today, they mummify to preserve the body. Comparison of the ancient Egyptians process & purpose of mummification to those who do it today.
Curse of the Mummy • When Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen, nothing would have stopped him from going inside, despite the fact that it was believed that anyone who entered the burial chambers of the pharaohs would be curse. The curse meant death and a lot of people were scared. The excitement was caused buy the sudden death of lord Carnarvon, one of the first who entered the tomb. Many people claimed that the dead Pharaoh was angry and had “cursed” all those who had disturbed his rest. The curse has since been blamed for the death of many people connected with the discovery.
1) Name the 3 main people who took part in the mummification process. 2) What was the first and second part of the mummification process called? 3) When did mummification in Egypt first start? 4) What did the Scribe do in the mummification process? 5) In Ancient Egypt why did the mummification process start? quiz
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/mummification.htm 2)http://historylink101.net/egypt_1/religion_mummification_process.htm 3) http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/egypt/mummies.htm 4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy 5) http://www.unmuseum.org/makemum.htm 6) http://www.travel-notes.org/mummy.html 7) http://www.summum.org/mummification/process.shtml
