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Ancient Egyptians believed that there is an afterlife after death. Mummification helped people find their to the afterlife as they believed that an afterlife could only be reached if there was a form the soul also called ka could repossess after death. Egyptians believed that the one and only way to achieve this was if the body was identifiable. This is why they spent such a huge amount of their time on the process of making mummies also called mummification and that is the reason why Pharaohs started building their tombs during their lifetimes.
The chief embalmer was a person whose job is to use chemicals to prevent a dead body from decaying. They are priests wearing masks of Anubis. Anubis is known as the jackal headed, god of the dead. He was directly connected and associated with embalming and mummification, therefore the embalmers or priests wore a mask of Anubis.
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The Story Behind Mummies – History
The origin of the techniques and art of embalming are connected principally to the ancient Egypt, where, as in parts of South America and Asia, a dry soil and climate promoted its development. In the early times people wrapped the bodies of the dead in cloth and buried them in charcoal and sand beyond the reach of the Nile waters, this method preserved the corpses well, retained the form and features of it for a long period of time. Those naturally preserved mummified bodies are believed to have an effect on the the religious doctrines because they seemed to prove that the individual remained after his death. Believing in immortality and physical resurrection was common and important in the Egyptian religion, both to the sun worship of early times and to the later sect of Osiris. Also there was the belief that when all of the elements that were present in life—heart, soul, shadow, name, and body— reunify, the person will be resurrected, as the god Osiris was after his brother murdered and lacerated him.
The Story Behind Mummies – Mummification
1: Who was the first woman President of India?
Given below are the steps followed to mummify a body.
- Install a hook like tool through a hole near the nose and pull out part of the brain.
- Cut the left side of the body near the stomach.
- Extract all the internal organs.
- Let the organs dry.
- Place the intestines,lungs, liver and stomach inside canopic jars.
- Put the heart back in place inside the body.
- Wash the inside of body with wine and spices.
- Let the corpse sit in salt (natron) for 70 days.
- After 40 days stuff the body with sand or linen to give it a more shape.
- After the 70 days of time cover the body from top to bottom in bandages.
- Put the mummified body in a sarcophagus (box like a coffin).
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Facts on Mummies
Given below are some facts on mummies and mummification.
- Mummification was mainly used by wealthy people as poorer people could not give enough money used for the process.
- Egyptians people also mummified animals.
- The mouths of the bodies were often left open.
- The Romans made mummies.
- Mummification may be caused accidentally by natural conditions.
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The Story Behind Mummies – Quiz
1. What does the word Ka mean?
a) body
b) soul
c) heart
d) liver
Ans (b)
2. What is placed in the canopic jars?
a) soul
b) gold
c) eyes
d) internal organs
Ans (d)
3. Who was the god of the dead?
a) Osiris
b) Anubis
c) Isis
d) Set
Ans (b)
4. Where were the dead buried in the early period?
a) In the Nile
b) In soil
c) In the desert
d) None of the above
Ans (c)
5. Which organ is left in the body after being mummified?
a) heart
b) liver
c) lungs
d) stomach
Ans (a)
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