Facts About The Mummification Process
The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife and the resurrection of the body. This idea was founded on what they saw every day. Every evening, the sun set in the west and rose in the east the next morning. The moon grew and faded as new life sprang from grains sowed in the dirt. Everything was very trustworthy as long as order was maintained, and life after death was possible if specific circumstances were satisfied. For example, the body had to be mummified and placed in a fully equipped tomb with everything required for life in the afterlife. Removal of the brain, possibly using a whisking process to cause the brain to liquefy. Get to know all facts about the Mummification process, and how did mummification reflect Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
Ahmose Mummy at Luxor Museum in Luxor Egypt.jpg
by Tim Adams
Steps of the Mummification Process
Removal of internal organs
Putting the body into a natural salt to dry out
Coating the body in the embalming recipe to kill bacteria and to seal it
Wrapping the body in linen
Mummification Defintion
An antiquated technique for keeping a dead body from decomposing is mummification. In ancient Egypt, mummification was a prevalent practise; now, not so much. On the other hand, examination of a mummy has revealed the original ancient Egyptian embalming recipe-first used to preserve bodies.
The basic recipe for Mummification Process was
A plant oil-possibly sesame oil
Using a balsam-type plant or root extract that may have come from bullrushes
a plant based gum- a natural sugar that may have been extracted from acacia
a conifer tree resin, which was probably
pine resin.
When mixed into the oil, that resin would have given it antibacterial properties, protecting the body
the body from decay.
How did scientists find the recipe?
The recipe was sought out years ago by a doctor and his team by extracting and analysing the chemicals from Egyptian textiles that had been used to wrap mummies. The textiles are part of an Egyptian collection at Bolton Museum in the north part of England. Mummification in general supposedly started around 2600 BC during the building of the Great Pyramid. However, evidence shows that the preservation of the body started earlier than this. This discovery led to prehistoric mummy in the Turin Museum collection. Furthermore, it has never undergone any conservation treatments, so it provided a unique oppurtunity to study unpolluted ancient Egyptian chemistry.Additionally, By combining chemical analysis with visual examination of the body, genetic investigations radiocarbon dating and microscopic analysis of the linen wrappings, we confirmed that this ritual mummification process took place around 3,600 BC on a male, aged between 20 ad 30 years of age.
Why It Matters
The fact that the same recipe was used almost 2,000 years later means we have a sort of pan Egyptian identity well before the formation of the world’s first nation state in 3,000 BC. Its’ origins are much earlier than we thought. Furthermore, it also reveals an insight into how and when the Ancient Egyptians perfected the recipe that protected and preserved their dead.
This process left behind the iconic Egyptian mummies we are now so familiar with. Embalming was just one step in this careful process of preserving the body. The drying and embalming process is the key to preservation. Egyptian mummification was at the heart of their culture. The afterlife was just a continuation of enjoying life, but they needed the body to be preserved in order for the spirit to have a place to reside.
Interesting Facts About The Mummification Process
Mummification was performed to help the body reunite with the soul after death. The first step in mummification was removal of internal organs, the organs were then either placed in jars or replaced in the body. Furthermore, the mummification required drying the dead body with a type of salt called Natron. The process was completed by wrapping the dehydrated form with strips of linen. Ancient Egyptians also applied their mummification technique on animals. Accordingly, the first step in the mummification process is essential to prevent autolysis and halt decomposition. Mummification may be caused by natural conditions. The first mummification process technique was developed by Chinchorro.
Secrets of the Mummification
In truth, Mummification process was used to treat the dead body and remove all moisture, leaving only a dried form that will not easily decay. In the beginning, a hook is inserted through a hole near the nose and part of the brain is removed. After that, a cut is then made on the left side of the body near the tummy to remove all internal organs, and then they must wait until all internal organs are dry. The internal organs are then place in jars you can view at the Egyptian Museum. In Ancient Egypt, four Alabaster jars were used for the dead kings organs, It was called the Canopic Jars.
Description of The 4 canonic Jars
The first one had a human head it can carry and protect the liver. The 2nd jar had a falcon’s head it can carry and protect the intestines. The 3rd had a head of a baboon and it carried and protected the lungs.
Mummification Museum by miriam.mollerus
The 4th jar had the head of a jackal and carried and protected the stomach. All are available to see at the Egyptian Museum on the 2nd floor. Some of the king’s mummies were located at the Egyptian Museum while the rest of them are still at the Valley of the Kings and all in a good state of preservation.
In fact, 3500 year old Egyptian medical text is shedding new light on the ancient practice of mummification process. On the other hand, The papyrus document being studied is the oldest known mummification manual. If there is one thing about ancient Egypt that has captured the popular imagination, it’s mummies. Furthermore, the wrapped and preserved bodies have survived for thousands of years, inspiring whole genres of romantic and horror fiction alongside the interest of the scientific community, but even today our understanding of exactly how they were made is incomplete.
