Steps of Mummification

1.       Announcement of death

2.     Embalming the Body                                                    

3.     Removal of Brain

4.     Removal of Internal Organs

5.     Drying Out Process

6.     Wrapping of the Body

7.     Final Procession

Step 1 - Announcing the death was done by going out into the streets and telling people that the person was dead. Those calling out the information might not have been called "town criers," but they did the same thing.

Step 2 - Embalming the body meant putting a mixture of spices and other ingredients into the body that helped stop the body from rotting away.

Step 3 - Removing the brain was done with a special hook and the brain was taken out in pieces through the nose. People of the time did not understand what the brain did and didn't think it was important.

Step 4 - Removing the internal organs was done by making a cut in the left side of the person and taking out organs. The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines were saved and put in canopic jars or special tiny coffins with heads of gods that were to watch over the organs.

There were always four jars, one each for the four sons of Horus - all protective spirits - the lids on the jars were in the shape of a falcon, baboon, human and jackal. (See picture to the right.)

One organ that was not removed was the heart. The heart stayed with the body. They believed that one's soul and personality lived in the heart.

Step 5 - Drying out the body was done using special kinds of salt. As much as 40 of the 70 day process was used in getting the body dried out and ready to be wrapped.

Step 6 - Wrapping the body was done very carefully. Special oils and lotions were used. A special gold piece with the Eye of Horus (see right) was placed over the cut in the side where the internal organs were removed. They thought the Eye of Horus would help protect the mummy.

Hundreds of yards of special material called linen was used to wrap the body. They covered each finger and toe separately. They put layers and layers of cloth around the body. Between layers they would put special charms, amulets and other items to bring luck and to keep the body safe.

When the wrapping was done, a last covering was put over the whole mummy to keep it together - this covering was called a shroud. Special glue called mummia was put all over the shroud. The use of mummia is where the name "mummy" came from.

Some people had false eyes put in the eye sockets and make-up put on their faces. A special mask was made showing how the person looked so that the Ka (soul) could find the right body. The mask was made so the person looked forever young and without flaws. Most of the time the mask did not really look like the person at all. Finally, the mummy was placed in a special painted coffin.

Step 7 - Final procession meant taking the body to a place of rest or burial. The coffin was carried through the streets with people walking behind it crying for the loss of the one they loved. An interesting fact is that often people were actually paid to cry and act as mourners! Egyptians thought the more people mourning the loss of a loved-one, the better chance that person had to enter the Next Life.

Many new and exciting discoveries are still being made today. Scientists are still learning much about the people of Ancient Egypt by studying mummies. The use of a CAT scan -- a process where they can see inside the body and bones -- is being used to find out how the people may have died, to tell how old they were and even what they might have eaten for their last meal! There is a picture to the right of scientists starting a CAT scan on a mummy at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Some of the great pharaohs have been found and studied. Because of the mummification process and because of all the new technology we have now, it is now possible to know how pharaohs such as Amenhotep II, Thutmose III and IV, King Tutankhamen, Seti I and Ramses II looked during their lifetime (see Ramses II mummy at right). The study of these pharaohs and others continue to amaze and teach us more about the people of Ancient Egypt.

- Research completed by Caitlin F., Destiny R. and Jade D.