Here at the MET, I am sitting with a mummy ππΉπ ±πΎ that is still wrapped in its linen π±. Mummification π΄π§ππ ±π was an extremely important part of Egyptian religious practices because the body of the deceased π ππ± needed to stay intact in order for the deceased π ππ± to reach the afterlife πΌπΏππ.Β
Mummification π΄π§ππ ±π was practiced throughout most of Egyptian history, and the earliest mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ were most likely accidental just due to the dry climate of Egypt ππ ππ! The mummification π΄π§ππ ±π of people persisted for over 2,000 years and continued well into the Roman Period. The best preserved mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ are from the 18th-20th Dynasties.
Mummification π΄π§ππ ±π was a long process that took about seventy days to complete. First π, the internal organs ππ§ππΉπ¦ such as the liver π πππΉπΈπΈπΈ, stomach ππ£π», intestines, lungs ππ΄π₯π ±πΊ, and the brain ππ π πΉ were removed. The heart πππ£ remained in the body because it would be needed for the βWeighing of the Heartβ before the deceased entered the Field of Reeds πππ ππΏππ ±π°π. After that, the body was then dried in natron ππ§π¨, which is a type of salt. Once the drying was complete, the body was wrapped in hundreds of yards of linen π±. Amulets ππͺπ πͺ could placed in the linen π± to help the deceased enter the afterlife πΌπΏππ.
Here is some mummy-related vocabulary:
ππΉπ ±πΎ – Mummy
ππ«ππ – Tomb
ππ – Mastaba (House of Eternity)
ππππ – Burial Chamber
π΄π§ππ ±π – Mummification/Embalm
I have had a fascination with mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ since I was a little girl! Mummies ππΉπ ±πΎπͺ never scared me – I just remember being so interested and intrigued by the idea of them! One of the first books my Nonno ever gave me was called “Faces of the Pharaohs,” and it contained pictures of the 18th Dynasty royal mummies! It is still one of my favorite books!
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