After the organs were taken out of the body, the deceased was blanketed with the chemical compound natron for a period of time lasting 40 days. This step was to make sure that the body would dry out. After the body was dried out, a rinsing of the body took place, following by a layer of oil. Then, the key ingredient for every recipe to creating a mummy took place , the wrapping of the body with linen. In this article, you will learn of additional traditions associated with creating a mummy for the afterlife, as well as other techniques that emerged over time.
Upon laying the body flat, the hands were stretched out beside the body, which is then wrapped in fine linen. Between the layers of wrapping, embalmers were place sacred amulets with spells attached that were believed to assist a soul in finding its way to the afterlife”¦and quite fast they felt. Plaster then covered the linen wrapping, which was then painted on. Depending on the individual and the embalmer, individual toes and fingers were wrapped on their own.
Other methods of preserving the dead were used by the ancient Egyptians. For example, Middle Kingdom embalmers attempted to improve their methods of preservation. They tried coating linen with resin that originated from the sap of various conifers. At the ends of the linen bandages, you would find the name of the deceased.
By the time the Twenty-first Dynasty rolled around, embalmers started to place materials between the skin and muscle layer of their mummies, including sawdust, ashes, mud, sand, and linen. The end result created a realistic appearance. Coffins were then used for the placement of the body, which were called a sarcophagus. This kind of ancient coffin was then decorated with the image of the body that was placed inside. During the Middle Kingdom, researchers started to find painted masks on the dead, which further enhanced the life-like appearance of a mummy.
When it came to creating a mummy, the process was rather laborious. It took about 70 days. But it was all worth it for the ancient Egyptians, as they believed that mummification preserved the body so that the deceased individual’s soul could identify their own body when their soul made its way back to its rightful tomb. Furthermore, the Egyptians believed that the soul would reenter the body of the deceased. The soul at this point is referred to as ‘Ka.’
When the soul returned to the body of the deceased, the Egyptians believed that it would be hungry, thirsty, and in need of the same things that it was used to when it was part of a living being. For this reason, mummies were buried with plenty of food and other items that were once necessities to the living. Tombs often held bowl, plates, silverware, cups, and even combs. The walls of burial chambers were decorated with the images of servants that had been painted. The thinking was that they would also serve in the afterlife.
There was no notion of heaven or hell for ancient Egyptians. They believed that the presence of their priest helped to keep people well within their means of good deeds. The role of the priest was to perform ceremonies, rituals, and festivals. They were always present at a funeral.
In the early years of ancient Egyptian times, only members of royalty were mummified during the Old Kingdom days. However, the Middle Kingdom saw mummification spreading to the upper middle class. An increasing amount of people also had enough money for the embalming process during the 18th and 19th Dynasties of the New Kingdom. At this time, both royal and non-royal inhabitants were turned into mummies.