THE 7 STEPS OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUMMIFICATION

STEP 1: ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH

• A messenger was told to inform the public of the death.
• Family made arrangements to mourn, for body preparation, and ceremony.
• This was important because Egyptians believed the soul left the body at death.
• For eternal life, the body and soul had to be united after burial.

STEP 2: EMBALMING THE BODY

• Embalmimg began in a special tent called 'ibu'.
• The body was first cleansed with palm wine.
• Water from the Nile River was used to rinse the body.
• This step was done to purify the body.

STEP 3: REMOVAL OF THE BRAIN

• Egyptian embalmers removed the brain first.
• Because the function of the brain was not understood, it was considered garbage.
• A long hook was thrust into the nose and the brains were pulled out.
• The brain was placed in water to dissolve.

STEP 4: INTERNAL ORGANS REMOVED

• Embalmers took out the internal organs through a left-side cut in the stomach.
• The liver, stomach, intestines, and lungs were taken out and mummified.
• Each organ was stored in a small coffin called a Canopic Jar.
• Lotions, palm oil,and preserving fluids were used to wash the body's insides.
• The body was packed with straw and linen to keep the person's form.

THE CANOPIC JARS

• The tops of the jars represented the Four Sons of Horus.
• Hapi watched over the lungs and had the head of a baboon.
• Duamutef looked after the stomach and was depicted with a jackal head.
• Qebehsenuef protected the intestines and had the head of a falcon.
• Imset guarded the liver and was shown with a human head.

STEP 5: DRYING THE BODY OUT

• The body was placed on a tilted slab and covered with natron salt.
• Natron absorbed water from the body which was collected in a bowl.
• Rotting of the body was prevented by removing moisture.
• For forty days the body was laid outside to dry.

STEP 6: WRAPPING THE BODY

• The Eye of Horus was positioned over the abdomen slit and the body blessed.
• Hundreds of yards of linen were used; fingers and toes wrapped individually.
• Charms and papyrus were arranged inside the layers to protect the body.
• Priests wrote on the linen layers and recited ritual prayers.
• All wrappings were held together by a binding shroud.

STEP 6: WRAPPING THE BODY CONTINUED

• Mummia, or a type of glue, was finally applied to hold it all together.
• Cosmetics and artificial eyes were used on the mummy's face.
• A portrait mask covered the mummy's head.
• This allowed the dead person's soul to recognize its body.
• The body was finally placed in a decorated coffin.

STEP 7: FINAL PROCESSION

• Friends and family walked through town crying on their way to the tomb.
• The more mourners the greater the dead's chance at entering the after world.
• Before being placed in the tomb, the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony occurred.
• The family recited spells and the priest touched different parts of the mummy' face.
• This ceremony allowed the mummy to eat, see, hear, and move in the afterlife.

STEP 7: FINAL PROCESSION CONTINUED

• The Book of the Dead, Canopic jars, and belongings were placed in the burial chamber.
• The book of the dead contained 200 spells and instructions for reaching eternal life.
• "Weighing of the Heart" occurred after the tomb was sealed and witnessed by no one.
• The heart was the most powerful part of the person and center of the person's being.
• The heart was never removed from the body because it was used to judge one's life.

FINAL PROCESSION CONTINUED

• Gods of the underworld judged the heart on how well one behaved in life.
• Goddess of truth, Matt, weighed the heart against the "Feather of Truth".
• Anubis, god of the underworld, made all final judgements.
• If the heart balanced the feather, eternal life was granted.
• If not, the soul was doomed and the heart was fed to the monster Ammit.