MUMMIES Egyptians wanted to carry on living after they died. They did this by turning the body into a mummy, protecting the mummy in a tomb and giving the mummy food and drink (or pictures of food and drink). Then the dead person went into the underworld with Anubis to get their heart weighed against the feather of Maat (an ostrich feather). If the heart was lighter than the feather (because they had led a good life) they would have eternal life in the fields of peace. If the heart was heavier (because they had led a bad life) the soul would be eaten by the she-demon. These were the steps of mummification:
(a) The internal organs were removed, mummified and put in canopic jars and kept with the mummy
(b) Then the body was packed and covered with natron (salty substance) and left for 50 days
(c) Then the body cavity was filled with resin to restore the shape of the dead person
(d) Lastly the body was then tightly wrapped in many layers of linen and covered in good luck charms. This might take another 15 days. After the wrapping was complete the body was put in a shroud.
The whole process took about 70 days.
LINKS
This Link tells about the discovery of Tutankhamen! Making a Pharaoh Mask Funeral Customs Journey through Underworld Interactive Game Mummification Making a Mummy How to Make a Mummy out of an Apple! Egyptian Gods/Goddesses |
