Period 1 Honors World History Due: Jan 6/7 How To Guide: Mummifiaction Ancient Egypt

Jakya Bridges

Citations:

T z e l e p i s , S p i r o s . " A n c i e n t G r e e k T e c h -

n o l o g y . " A n c i e n t G r e e c e ( 2 0 0 2 ) : n . p a g .

W e b . 9 M a r 2 0 1 1 . < h t t p : / / u s e r s . o t e n e t . g r /

~ t z e l e p i s k / y c / a t . h t m > .

H e m i n g w a y , C o l e t t e . " A n c i e n t G r e e k

C o l o n i z a t i o n a n d T r a d e a n d T h e i r I n f l u e n c e

o n G r e e k A r t . " I n H e i l b r u n n T i m e l i n e o f A r t

H i s t o r y ( 2 0 0 0 ) : n . p a g . W e b . 9 M a r 2 0 1 1 .

< h t t p : / / w w w . m e t m u s e u m . o r g / t o a h / h d /

a n g k / h d _ a n g k . h t m >

Date: 01.07.11

The Preservation of

a lingering soul.

How to preserve a corpse of a nonliving organism

by embalming, drying, and wrapping it.

Who’s your mummy?

Mummification is the process in

which organs are removed from

the body and then treated with

chemicals.

Mummification Process

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Step 9:

The mummy is placed into his/her sarcophagus.

Step 8:

To foster protect the cadaver from caving in, sawdust was put inside the body.

Step 10:

Once the mummification is complete , an “Opening of the Mouth” ceremony takes place. During this ceremony the mouth of the mummy was not opened, however, a feast did occur.

Step11:

The tomb is closed and sealed.

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Step 7:

After about thirty-five days, the natron was scrapped off and white linen was wrapped around the remaining figure. As the Hery seshta and Wetwy, the assistant embalmer, wrapped the character in linen, they placed amulets within the layers of the cloth.

Step 6:

The decaying flesh was covered with natron to preserve the body as much as possible.

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Table of Contents

Step 1: Incision

Step 2: Corpse is cleansed with Spices

Step 3: Corpse is filled with packets of natron

Step 4: Removal of Brain

Step 5: Removal of Eyes

Step 6: Covered in natron

Step 7: Wrapped in linen

Step 8: Filled with sawdust

Step 9: Placed in sarcophagus

Step 10: “Opening of the Mouth” Ceremony

Step 11: Tomb is sealed

Background information regarding

mummification.

Preparing a body for

the afterlife in Ancient

Egypt was an ex-

tremely long and com-

plicated method. The Egyptians believed that

preserving the corpse was important to keep their

soul alive. The Embalmers were priests who were

specified in the mummification process. Mummifi-

cation was a ritual, therefore priests who partici-

pated were trained to perform the practice with

both surgical and ritual precision. Mummification

is the procedure in which a cadaver is preserved

by embalming, drying, and wrapping it.

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Page 9

Step 5:

The eyes are removed. Subsequent to the removal of the eyes, the empty cavities were filled with packets of natron and sawdust. If the corpse was once a high class citizen, the sawdust was replaced with beautifully blown marbles. However, if not, the sawdust was taken out and the eye socket was left empty.

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Step 3:

After the body cavity is cleared and cleansed, it is filled with packets of natron.

Step 4:

The brain is removed. To extract the brain a hook is inserted into the nasal passage. On the hook is a small block that is used to crack the bone inside the nose. Once the bone is cracked, the metal hook is then inserted into the nose and pushed further until it reaches the brain. Due to the texture of the brain, the embalmers twisted the hook, causing the brain to ooze out of the nose.

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Spices and Other Materials used in mummifying

After the Embalmer removes all of the internal organs, excluding the heart, the body is cleansed with the previously displayed spices and wines. The following materials are shown above:

Linen

Sawdust

Lichen

Beeswax

Resin

Items needed to

undergo process

Packets of natron

Onion

Nile mud

Linen pads

Frankincense

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Bag of Natron

THIS NATURALLY OCCURRING SALT WAS AN IMPORTANT

PURIFYING AGENT, MAINLY BECAUSE ITS USED TO

DESTROY FAT AND GREASE.

Craving Utensils used in

mummification

Palm Wine

THIS WINE IS USED TO CLEANSE THE BODY CAVITIES AND VISCERA

DURING THE EMBALMING PROCESS.

The previously displayed items were used

to craft an incision on the side of the

abdomen. This slit was used to remove

several internal organs.

Mummifying

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Step 1:

First, an incision is crafted on the side of the abdomen by the Hery seshta, the chief embalmer. Using the opening, the intestines, lungs, and numerous other internal organs, excluding the heart, are removed. After the organs are extracted they are placed in jars and boxes to protect and preserve them.

Step 2:

The corpse is washed out with spices and wine to remove any odors and moisture.