How long did it take to mummify a pharaoh?

Unveiling the Secrets of Egyptian Mummification – In this blog, we will explore the secrets of Egyptian mummification, we embark on a journey that transcends time and immerses us in the captivating world of ancient rituals, mythology, and reverence for the afterlife.

By unravelling these mysteries, we gain a deeper appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of Egypt and the extraordinary lengths to which ancient Egyptians went to ensure the eternal preservation of their loved ones.

Unveiling the Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Mummification

Natural mummification

The study of mummified remains has unveiled many secrets including societal and cultural aspects surrounding mummification. From the elaborate funeral rituals to the role of priests, embalmers, and various deities like Anubis, the jackal-headed god associated with embalming, each aspect contributes to our understanding of the intricate beliefs and practices of ancient Egyptian society.

The ancient Egyptians held a deep-seated fear of the body’s disintegration. The scorching heat of the sand played a crucial role in aiding the preservation process by drawing out the body’s liquids. This natural mummification, as it is termed, occurred without any direct human intervention.

The ancient practice of mummification in Egypt has long fascinated archaeologists, historians, and enthusiasts alike. This captivating funerary tradition, dating back thousands of years, involved a complex set of rituals and techniques aimed at preserving the physical bodies of the deceased for eternity.

The Egyptians’ reverence for the body stemmed from their belief in the afterlife and the concept of bodily resurrection. They believed that the preservation of the physical form was essential to ensuring a successful transition into the next life. Through mummification, they sought to safeguard not only the body but also the spirit within, allowing it to traverse the realm of the dead and continue its existence in the afterlife.

The Mummification Process

For centuries, the secrets of Egyptian mummification remained shrouded in mystery. However, modern scientific techniques and advancements have allowed us to delve deeper into this ancient practice. Through X-ray imaging, CT scans, and chemical analysis, researchers have gained valuable insights into the lives and health of individuals from the past. These scientific examinations of mummies have revealed fascinating details, such as age, diet, diseases, and even intricate embalming techniques employed by ancient Egyptian embalmers.

In the realm of ancient Egypt, mummification served as a means to surpass the limitations of nature. The practice held such significance that it was deemed essential, particularly for Pharaohs. Initially, mummification involved wrapping specific body parts, such as the face and hands, as a means to protect the body from the elements and ensure its integrity.

Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, provides the most comprehensive account of the mummification process. According to his writings, the entire process spanned a period of seventy days. The first thirty days were dedicated to evisceration and drying, followed by forty days of meticulous stuffing and embalming with oils.

Stage one of the embalming process – 30 days

The elaborate mummification process involved multiple stages, each contributing to the successful preservation of the body. To begin the mummification, the internal organs, excluding the heart and kidneys, were extracted through an incision in the left side of the body. These organs were then dried, wrapped, and placed in canopic jars, although later practices saw their placement back inside the body. The brain, on the other hand, was typically removed through the nose and discarded. While physical evidence for the removal of the heart during the Old Kingdom remains elusive, ancient texts suggest its removal or replacement with a heart amulet.

The practice of embalming or mummifying aimed to improve on what nature could do on its own. It was considered essential to mummify a Pharaoh. Early mummification involved the wrapping of specific parts of the body such as the face and hands. The best literary account of the mummification process is given by Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian. He records that the entire process took seventy days. There were 30 days of evisceration and drying and 40 days of perfecting with stuffing and embalming with oils.

Stage two of the embalming process – 40 days

The body underwent a meticulous drying process, with bags of natron or salt packed inside and outside the body for a period of forty days. Bags of natron or salt were packed both inside and outside the body and left for forty days until all the moisture had been removed from the remaining body tissue. The body was then cleansed with aromatic oils and resins and wrapped with bandages, often household linen torn into strips.

Between the layers of wrapping, the embalmers place amulets to protect the deceased. Heart scarabs were placed in the wrappings of the mummy. They had spells carved on them to protect the deceased person’s heart from being lost or separated from the body in the underworld. This ensured the removal of all moisture from the remaining body tissues.

Following the drying process, the body was cleansed using aromatic oils and resins before being carefully wrapped with bandages, often made from torn strips of household linen. Amulets were placed between the layers of wrapping to protect the deceased, including heart scarabs with carved spells to safeguard the heart from being lost or separated in the underworld.

The Canopic Jars – Preserving the Soft Tissue

Canopic jars played a vital role in the mummification process, used to store preserved soft tissues. By the time of the New Kingdom, these jars were reduced to four in number, each lid representing a god known as the ‘four sons of Horus.’ These deities were responsible for protecting specific internal organs, with Duamutef safeguarding the stomach, Hapy caring for the lungs, Imsety overseeing the liver, and Qebehsenuef guarding the intestines.

The internal organs, apart from the heart and kidneys, were removed via a cut on the left side. The organs were dried and wrapped and placed in canopic jars, or later replaced inside the body. The brain was removed, often through the nose, and discarded.

Texts suggest that the heart was removed during the Old Kingdom, although there is no proof of this from the physical bodies. The Pyramid Text (1162a), concerned might be referring to putting a heart amulet in place of the original heart. It reads: “To say: my father made for himself his heart after the other (heart) was taken from him” In this passage, the word “other” could be a reference either to the god giving another heart to the deceased, or providing a heart amulet in its place.

Unveiling the Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Mummification

The canopic jars.

The canopic jars were used to store the soft tissue. “Anubis, who is the chief of the divine booth (sh-ntr), has commanded thy purification with thy eight nmst-jars and [thy] eight ‘3bt-jars, which come from the sh-ntr ” (2012b-c ).

The Role of Anubis – The God of Embalmer’s Tent

At the heart of the mummification process was the god Anubis. Anubis was responsible for embalming, particularly for Pharaohs. The Pyramid Texts refer to Anubis as the embalmer of the Pharaoh, highlighting his role in washing the viscera of the deceased king.

Egyptologist Bob Brier suggests that the embalming process took place in a tent situated atop a hill, away from the unpleasant odours associated with treating the deceased. This tent, referred to as the “sh-ntr,” served as a divine booth where the purification procedures for the bodies of kings took place.

The tent is described in various texts. it had a number of rooms, and the central part of the tent was the place where the purification procedures were carried out. The doorways were shown as closed wooden doors (Merrewka), or curtains as in the tomb of Qar, or they were left open as in the tomb of Idu.

 

Unveiling the Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Mummification

Anubis, with the deceased on the lion bed of resurrections, beneath the four canopic jars face right, Anubis offers a libation.

Unveiling the Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Mummification

Anubis mummifies the Pharaoh in his tent.

Scientific analysis of mummies using processes such as X-ray and CT scanning has revealed a wealth of information about how individuals lived and died. It has been possible to identify conditions such as lung cancer, osteoarthritis and tuberculosis, as well as parasitic disorders.

Sources:

British Museum website, Mummification in The Old Kingdom By Ahmed Saleh

 

See Also:

Questions in Egyptology 6: Did Anubis Have a Magic Eye?

Questions in Egyptology 5: What was the punishment for Ancient Egyptians if caught tomb-robbing?

Questions in Egyptology No. 4: Did the Ancient Egyptians Have a Religion?

Questions in Egyptology No 3. Did the Egyptians Influence the Greeks?

Questions in Egyptology No. 2: How Long Did it Take to Mummify a Pharaoh?