Egyptian mummies!

Introduction The pharaohs had huge monuments built for them so they would always be remembered. The first Historian to record about mummification comes from a Greek named Herodotus

Death Ancient Egyptians take a lot of trouble preparing for the afterlife, the entire process lasting 70 days The bodies are preserved by embalming and mummification.

Cleansing the body Your body would be cleaned with sweet smelling palm wine Afterwards, your body is taken to the place of embalming called the wabet.

Removing the organs To begin: bits of brain were removed through the nostril with a tool resembling a crochet hook “Brain Hook” Believed brain only produced mucus You thinking was done with your heart (so leave it behind)

Removal Cont’d A slicer priest will make a short cut using an “embalmer’s knife” alongside the left side of your stomach. Only a 3” slit-didn’t want to damage body Lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines, were all removed No mention of your heart!!

Embalming Cont’d Natron salt is used to dry out your body once the organs have been removed. This salt draws out the moisture from within your body Typically 400 pounds of salt were used

Storing the organs The organs were stored in Canopic jars. Each jar is protected by one of the four sons of Horus The lid of the jar is shaped like it’s protectors head.

Canopic Jars Jackal Head Jar-stomach Human Head Jar-liver Baboon Head Jar-lungs Falcon Head Jar-intestines

Get stuffed! The body is soaked in Natron for 40 days After 40 days your skin will be shrivelled and you will look like a piece of old leather. So your skin is rubbed with oils to make it softer. (Make-Up artist) Next add some false eyes and hair The empty space where your organs were are now stuffed with sawdust and rags.

Wrapped and ready It will take 15 days to wrap you up you will need 20 layers of bandages. If you were sensible you would have saved linen for the whole of your life for this purpose.

Wrapping it Up Charms, called amulets, were folded into the wrappings (for good luck). Resin was used to glue the bandages together 'Plummet' amulet which will keep the person balanced in the next life. 'Isis knot' amulet which will protect the body.

The coffins Once wrapped up you will need a good wooden coffin. The coffins should have pictures of gods on them and lots of hieroglyphs. A nest of coffins will be placed in your tomb, inside a stone coffin called a sarcophagus.

What a mummy needs for a blissful afterlife…. Have the wall of your tomb painted with pictures of you. Stock your tomb with food, clothes. Weapons, furniture and tools. It is the duty of your relatives to bring you gifts of food, so you don’t go hungry “You are young again. You live again. You are young again. You live again. Forever.” Ancient hieroglyphics found on the walls of a tomb

The end A papyrus scroll with spells from the Book of the Dead is placed between the wrapped hands. Once your tomb has been sealed, your soul will battle its way through the underworld and your heart will be weighed against the feather of truth.

Quick quiz What is Natron? A natural salt used to dry out the body. How many days is the body left before it is stuffed? 40 What is a Canopic jar? Four jars in which the embalmed stomach, lungs, liver and intestines were stored

Mummy Maker Game http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/launch_gms_mummy_maker.shtml