Mummification of the deceased is a practice that began in ancient Egypt as early as 3500 BCE that not only prevented the body from decay and decomposition but was done to ensure the deceased’s successful passage to the afterlife because a soul couldn’t reach the afterlife if their body wasn’t intact. Mummification is the process involved in embalming and preserving the body after death in order for the soul to continue its eternal journey because a person’s immortal soul, name, and identity were linked to their physical form.
The jackal-headed god Anubis was not only a protector of the dead, but was the god of the afterlife and mummification, the inventor of mummification, and presided over mummification rituals and funerals. Prior to Osiris becoming the Lord of the Underworld, Anubis’ role was as the Lord of the Dead, but after the death and rebirth of Osiris, Anubis became Osiris’ right-hand man who guarded Osiris’ body after death, oversaw his mummification, and assisted Osiris in the judgement of souls.
— CHAPTERS — 0:00 Introduction 0:36 Explore Ancient Greece with WHE! 1:14 What is Mummification? 2:41 The Development of Burial Practices 5:31 The Mummification Process 10:23 Outro
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians believed the soul couldn't reach the afterlife if their
body wasn't intact? Hello and welcome to World History Encyclopedia. My name is Kelly and today's
video is all about the history, importance and process of mummification in ancient Egypt.
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Mummification of the deceased is a practice that began in ancient Egypt as early as 3500 BCE
that not only prevented the body from decay and decomposition but was done to ensure the deceased's
successful passage to the afterlife because a soul couldn't reach the afterlife if their body
wasn't intact. Mummification is the process involved in embalming and preserving the body
after death in order for the soul to continue its eternal journey because a person's immortal soul,
name and identity were linked to their physical form. The jackal-headed god Anubis was not only
a protector of the dead but was the god of the afterlife and mummification, the inventor of
mummification and presided over mummification rituals and funerals. Prior to Osiris becoming
the lord of the underworld, Anubis's role was as the lord of the dead but after the death and
rebirth of Osiris, Anubis became Osiris's right-hand man who guarded Osiris's body after death,
oversaw his mummification and assisted Osiris in the judgment of souls.
Both of these deities were highly respected and associated with death, mummification and the
afterlife with Osiris often depicted as a mummified ruler with either black or green skin
that symbolizes both death and resurrection. Mummification developed from the ancient
Egyptians' religious beliefs. Burials from the pre-dynastic period of Egypt dating to
5000 BCE were shallow rectangular or oval graves that contained a body that wasn't mummified,
some grave goods and food offerings. So although the deceased wasn't mummified,
this early in the history of Egypt the Egyptian people already believed in some sort of afterlife
as evidenced by grave goods. Through time the burials evolved into more elaborate affairs
and by the early dynastic period between circa 3150 and circa 2613 BCE, cemeteries had become
more common and the use of mastabids, flat-roofed rectangular structures, had become more popular
than the early simple graves. These burials weren't just for a person's final resting place
but was designed as eternal homes for the body which was understood as the mortal vessel for
one's eternal soul. The soul had grown used to the body however and identified with it and so it
had to be reassured after death that the body was still intact and close at hand. Inscriptions of
spells in the pyramid texts, the coffin texts and the book of the dead and tombs painted with scenes
of daily life not only prepared the soul for what to expect in the afterlife but to remind the soul
of what was happening after the body had died and assure the soul the body was nearby. Death wasn't
an end but a transition from one state to another leaving the body behind but this transition could
not proceed if the soul was traumatized by the loss of the body and so the body had to be very
carefully prepared in order for the soul to recognize it upon reawakening in the tomb. The
which was one's double form or astral self. The bar which was a human-headed bird aspect
which could speed between earth and heavens or more specifically between the afterlife and one's
body. The shuyet which was the shadow self. The ark which was the immortal transformed self after death.
The sahu which was an aspect of the ark. The setchem which was another aspect of the ark.
The ab which was the heart the source of good and evil and the holder of one's character
and finally the ren which was a person's secret name. So for the car and the bar to recognize
themselves after death and to properly function the cart had to exist. After death the different
aspects of the soul would be confused after they were released and needed to center themselves by
According to Herodotus there were three types of embalming offered. The best and most expensive
kind, an inferior and cheaper process and then the cheapest of the three. The family of the deceased
would have to choose which one for the deceased and their choice could affect both themselves and
the deceased since if they could afford the more expensive one but they chose one of the inferior
embalming options then they run the risk of haunting since the dead person would know that
they had been given a cheaper service than they deserved. The deceased could still hear and see
as the ancient Egyptians believed that death wasn't the end of consciousness so both burial
practice and mortuary rituals were taken incredibly seriously since the dead were understood to be
People still seemed to choose the service they could most easily afford though
and the type of embalming they chose would then determine the kind of coffin available,
the funerary rites and the treatment of the body. For mummification the key ingredient was natron
known as a divine salt. Natron is a combination of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate
and sodium bicarbonate which was the best at defatting and removing the moisture from the
although common salt was also used. In the most expensive embalming method the brain was removed
by a hook through the nostrils and any brain matter left would be flushed out with drugs.
The contents of the abdomen including all of the organs were then removed through an incision in
the left side and the empty cavity would be washed and then cleaned then filled with aromatic herbs
and substances then sewed back up after which the body would be covered in natron for at least
40 days and absolutely no longer than 70 days. Then the body was washed, wrapped in linen strips
sometimes with magical amulets and charms and given back to the family in a human-shaped coffin.
In the mid-range embalming process the intestines aren't removed but the body is filled with cedar
oil then placed in the natron and then at the end of the salt process the oil was drained from
the body. At this point all that is left is skin and bones which are returned to the family as is
and the third and cheapest option was that the intestines were washed out of the body
and then kept in natron for 70 days according to Herodotus. The process of mummification was
followed with animals as well as humans and Egyptians regularly had their pet cats, dogs,
birds, baboons, fish and gazelles mummified. Why are the internal organs removed? Well it's to help
preserve the corpse but it was believed the deceased would still need the organs so they
were placed in canopic jars and sealed in the tomb. Only the heart was left in the body as it
was thought to contain the ab aspect of the soul which contained the person's identity and character
although there are examples of mummies where the heart has been removed. In the grave or tomb of
deceased along with the body and canopic jars would also be placed grave goods including shabti
dolls which would perform a specific task for you in the afterlife so your soul could relax instead
of having to work. The more wealth you had the more shabti dolls you could afford and the less
your soul had to work in the afterlife. The deceased would also be buried with other objects
deemed necessary in the afterlife like jewelry, beer, combs, clothing, bread, weapons and even
their pets. It was believed that everything buried with the deceased would then be available to them
in the afterlife for the soul to make use of. Before the tomb was sealed the opening of the
mouth ceremony was performed which was a rite in which the priest would invoke Isis and Nephthys
the goddesses who brought Osiris back to life after he was chopped up by his brother Set to
awaken the soul. The priest would touch the mummy in various spots with different objects like a
chisel and a knife and in doing so he restored the use of the mouth, eyes, ears and nose to the
deceased. Then the mummy would be enclosed in either a coffin or a sarcophagus and left in the
grave or tomb with their grave goods and the funeral service would come to an end with a party
honoring the deceased while the soul of the departed would move on to eternal life. If you
had the option would you want to be mummified after you die let us know what you think in the
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