?The eight steps of embalming! Why was the mummification process done
Eternal life wasn't just about preserving the soul. The body of the deceased also had to be preserved.
To prevent the body from rotting, the deceased underwent a long and gruesome mummification process, the mummification process was able to produce mummies that lasted for thousands of years until now.
The ancient Egyptians knew the process of mummification more than 3 thousand years ago, and before that time, all citizens, regardless of their social status, were buried in cemeteries in the desert. The innovative prosthetic method removes the internal organs of the body, dried the flesh and then wraps the body with strips of linen.
The first mummified mummies in Egypt date back to about 3500 BC, while the more complex, developed and accurate embalming process was around 1550 BC, and was considered the best method of preservation.
The eight steps of embalming! And why was the mummification process done 2161
The mummification process
has been developed and refined over thousands of years, and ancient Egypt has the distinction and uniqueness of producing some of the best preserved mummies in the world, to the point that we can now stare at the mummified faces of men, women and children just as they were more than 2,000 years ago.
The process of mummification of the ancient Egyptians for their dead went through several stages, and the mummification process was carried out during a certain period of time that might exceed two months, starting from the start of the mummification process and emptying the body until the deceased was wrapped in cloth and linen.
What are the eight steps of the mummification process? And why did the ancient Egyptians mummify their dead?
The mummification process was very expensive and took about 70 days, so only the high-ranking states and the wealthy could afford it.
While members of the working class embalmed their dead in an alternative way of preservation, which includes filtering the internal organs with cedar oil, draining them through the rectum, and then placing the body in a saline substance called natron to dry it.
Mummification was done in the Red Earth, a desert area far from densely populated areas and within easy reach of the Nile.
Upon death, the body would be taken to the Igbo, or "place of purification," where it would be washed in river water.
The body of the deceased is then taken to an "embalming house," an open tent to allow ventilation. The corpse is placed on a table ready to be dissected by the embalmers, and these embalmers were skilled craftsmen with deep knowledge of anatomy and a steady hand, and the secrets of the embalming process were not known to everyone.
Often the embalmers were priests, because performing religious rites on the deceased was an equally important part of the mummification process.
? What are the eight steps of the mummification process
1. Purification of the body:
Before the mummification process begins, the body is washed with Nile water and palm wine.
2. Removal of internal organs:
A small incision is made in the left side of the body, and the liver, lungs, intestines, and stomach are removed. It is then washed and packed into natron before being put into canopic jars. While the heart is left in the body where it is believed to be the center of intelligence, it will be needed in the afterlife.
3. Brain drain:
A specialized sharp instrument of embalming is inserted into the skull through the nostril, and is used to disassemble the brain so that it can be drained from the nose.
4. Leave the corpse to dry:
The body is stuffed and covered with natron, a kind of salt that absorbs any moisture. Then it is left for 40 days to dry.
5. Body Filler:
Again, the body is washed with the waters of the Nile River and covered with oils to help the skin remain supple, wherein natron is extracted and then the body is stuffed with sawdust and linen to make it appear vibrant.
6. Wrapping the body in linen:
The process of wrapping the body in linen after the completion of mummification was carried out in a certain way. First, the head and neck were wrapped with strips of linen, then the fingers and toes.
Then the arms and legs are wrapped separately before being tied together. Liquid resin is used as glue.
7. Addition of amulets:
Amulets and incantations are placed between the layers to protect the body from any evil or harm during its journey to the afterlife.
8. Reading a supplication for the deceased:
the priest reads the incantations aloud while wrapping the body to ward off evil spirits from the place and to save the dead. He often wears the mask of Anubis - the deity associated with the mummification process and the afterlife.
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