Mummification is an ancient tradition that was used for centuries in Egyptian society for burial preparation. Orginally the dead were placed in small sand pits to dry out the bodies. However, with this process they realized that the bodies dryed out and decayed very quickly. To preserve the bodies further mummification was adopted. This practice started intentionally about 2600 BC and continued and developed for well over 2,000 years into the Roman Period (ca 30 BC). The art was perfected in the Third Intermediate Period (1070-712 BC). Around 450 B.C., the Greek historian Herodotus documented the process. The process and the quality of the mummification also varied according to the price paid and the importance of the person.

The Egyptians believed that there were six important aspects that made up the human being: The physical body, shadow, name, ka (sprit), ba (personality), and the akf (immortality). Each of these were very important and played a major role in achieving rebirth in the afterlife. With the exception of the akh all of these were present at birth. An intact body was the most important part of a person's afterlife. Without this physical body there was no shadow, no name, no ka, ba, or akh. By mummification they believed they were fulfilling all six aspects.

The process of mummification has two stages: Embalming and Wrapping.

Embalming:

1. The body is taken to the place of purification, where it is washed with palm wine and rinsed with the water of the Nile.
2. A cut is made on the left side of the body and the internal organs are removed. The liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines are washed and stored in a natron to dry them out. A long hook is then used to smash up the brain and pull it out the nose.
3. The body is covered and stuffed with natron to dry out the body. Natron is a natural substance that is found along the Nile River. It is made up of 4 salts: sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and sodium sulfate.
4. After 40 days it is washed again with water from the Nile and covered with oils to maintain elasticity.
5. The dryed organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the body. The remaining pocket is stuffed with sawdust, leaves, and linen so as not to leave a sagging cavity (fake eyes were also added). Note that at the beginning of mummification the organs were placed in canopic jars instead of being returned to the body.

Wrapping:

1. First the head and neck are wrapped with strips of fine linen, followed by the fingers and toes.
2. The arms and legs are then wrapped separately while having amulets between the layers to protect the journey to the underworld. During the process a priest is also reading spells out load to ward off evil spirits and to aid the journey.
3. The arms and legs are tied together and a papyrus scroll with the spells from the Book of the Dead are placed between the hands.
4. Full strips of linen are wrapped around the body with liquid resin being put between each layer.
5. The body is wrapped in cloth and the god Osiris is painted on top.
6. A large cloth is wrapped around the entire mummy and a board of painted wood is placed on top before being placed in the coffin. That first coffin is then placed inside the second or "main one". These two coffins are then placed inside the sarcophagus after the rituals of the deceased are performed.

The full process took around 70 days for each mummy.

Resources:

Mummification Story - The British Museusm - http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/story/main.html
An Egyptian Mummification - http://members.aol.com/egyptart/mummy.html
Egyptian Mummies - The Smithsonian Institute - http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/mummies.htm

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