Mummification is a process in which the skin and flesh of a corpse can be preserved. The process can occur naturally or it can be intentional. If it occurs naturally, it is the result of cold (as can be found in a glacier), acid (as can be found in a swamp), or dryness. The Egyptians wrapped bandages around the corpse to protect the body from putrefaction.
Mummies of humans and other animals have been found on every continent, but as a result of natural preservation through unusual conditions and as cultural artifacts. More than a million animal mummies have been found in Egypt, many of which are cats. They used a hook to remove the brain and use a knife to remove the organs.
Intentional mummification was common in ancient Egypt, especially for burying Egyptian pharaohs. Osiris was probably the first mummy in Egypt.
It takes about 70 days to completely mummify a corpse. The first step is to push a sharp rod through the nose into the brain. From there, the brain is divided into small pieces and removed through the nose, and then the nose is filled with saw dust.. They then drill a hole in the body to remove all the organs except the heart. The jars that had the heads of gods on top were used to store organs. The hole was filled with flax and spices and the body was left in salt to dry. Later, after 40 days, the body was wrapped in linen bandages. The priests surrounded the body while wrapping it and casting spells. After completing the mummification process, a mask was placed over the head so that it can be met in the afterlife.
There were no restrictions on who could be mummified. Any Egyptian who can afford the expensive process of preserving their bodies for the afterlife. The Egyptians believed in life after death, and that death was just a transition from one life to another. They believed that they had to preserve their bodies in order to lead a new life. They need all the things they had used when they were alive for their family to put those things in their grave. The Egyptians paid large amounts of money to preserve their bodies properly. It took a long time from start to finish. It took 70 days to embalm a body.
The Egyptians used canopic jars to hold internal organs. It was very important to the Egyptian religion that the human body be preserved. Anubis was a god of mummification, he had a human body and a jackal's head. His job was to prepare the dead to be greeted by Osiris.
