Earliest forms of Mummification The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in small pits in the desert The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies quickly creating lifelike and natural mummies ID: 550534
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Slide1
Ancient Egypt: Mummification & Burial Rituals Slide2
Earliest forms of Mummification
The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in small pits in the desert. The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies quickly, creating lifelike and natural 'mummies'.Slide3
Why Did the Egyptians Mummify the Dead…?
Ancient Egyptians believed that when someone died, their soul left their body and began their journey into the Underworld
Once there, you stood before Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, to be judge
If Osiris judged you to be a good person, your soul would reunite with the body after it was buried. To do this, the soul needed to find and recognize the body in order to live forever Slide4
Later, ancient Egyptians began to bury the dead in coffins to protect from wild animals in the desert. However, they soon realized that those bodies would decay if they were not exposed to the dry, hot sand of the desert.
Over many centuries, the ancient Egyptians developed a method of preserving bodies so they would remain lifelike. Slide5
Two Processes
There are two processes involved when mummifying the dead
Embalming
Wrapping Slide6
The Embalming Process
First,
the body
is taken to the tent known as '
ibu
' or the 'place of
purification’.
T
he embalmer
wash his body with good smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile.
Slide7
Removal of the Brain
The brain is removed by using a long hook
The hook is pushed up into the brain through the roof of the nose and then moved back and fourth to break down the brain
The body is turned over and the brain flows into a bowl Slide8
Mummification ToolsSlide9
Removal of Vital Organ
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 man will need it in the afterlifeSlide10
Materials Used in the Mummification Process Slide11
After 40 days, the body is washed again with water from the Nile. Then it is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.
Slide12
The dehydrated internal organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the
body
The
body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike.
Finally, the body is covered again with good smelling oils
It is ready to be wrapped in linen Slide13
Canopic Jars: the Four Sons of HorusSlide14
Canopic Chest of Tutankhamun Slide15
Tutankhamun's Canopic Chest and Lids Slide16
The Wrapping Process
First the head and neck are wrapped with strips of fine linen. Then the fingers and the toes are individually wrapped.
Slide17
A
priest reads spells out loud while the mummy is being
wrapped
These
spells will help ward off evil spirits and help the
deceased make
the journey to the afterlife
Slide18
The arms and legs are tied together. A papyrus scroll with spells from the Book of the Dead is placed between the wrapped hands.Slide19
Detailed scene from the Papyrus of
HuneferSlide20
More linen strips are added to the body along with risen to help glue the strips A cloth is wrapped around the body and a picture of the god Osiris is painted on its surface
Slide21
Finally, a large cloth is wrapped around the entire mummy and attached with strips of linen that run from the top to the bottom of the mummy
A board of painted wood is placed on top of the mummy before the mummy is lowered into its coffin. The first coffin is then put inside a second coffinSlide22
Artefact: Family Mourning the Dead Slide23
Final Steps
A
ritual called
the 'Opening of the Mouth' is performed, allowing the deceased to eat and drink againSlide24
Finally, the body and its coffins are placed inside a large stone sarcophagus in the tomb. Furniture, clothing, valuable objects, food and drink are arranged in the tomb for the deceased.Slide25Slide26
Coffin of a Middle Kingdom Official Slide27
Tomb Painting Slide28
Now his body is ready for its journey through the underworld. There his heart will be judged by his good deeds on earth.
Slide29
Image of the Field of Reeds:
Aaru
If his heart is found to be pure he will be sent to live for all eternity in the beautiful 'Field of Reeds'.Slide30Slide31Slide32Slide33Slide34Slide35Slide36