Death and Burial customs
One religious belief held by the Ancient Egyptians was that men and women lived forever. Death, to them, was not the end of everything but simply a change to another type of living. The ‘soul’ did not die, only the body. They believed that death was just a stage and tat after death was an afterlife. For this reason, people’s bodies were preserved, especially ones from royal blood, if they could afford it through mummification.
PREPARING FOR DEATH
In the afterlife, Ancient Egyptians expected to go to the ‘Kingdom of the Dead’. They believed that when they arrived there, they would live with their families, ancestors, again enjoy using the same possessions and have the same personality. They would eat, drink and work as they did on Earth and be able to relive the best moments of their lives. To them, death was just an interruption to the joy of living.
The pharaohs and nobles spent many years planning, building and furnishing their tombs. The walls were painted with pictures showing the activities that the dead person expected to continue after death. For example, hunting, winning battles and banqueting.
All that was needed for life after death was buried with the body.
The list of objects included; food, clothing, furniture and jewellery. As well as some luxuries. Ushebtis were also placed in the tomb. These were small statues of servants who were supposed to come to alive and start working when called upon by the dead person.
The pharaohs and nobles spent many years planning, building and furnishing their tombs. The walls were painted with pictures showing the activities that the dead person expected to continue after death. For example, hunting, winning battles and banqueting.
All that was needed for life after death was buried with the body.
The list of objects included; food, clothing, furniture and jewellery. As well as some luxuries. Ushebtis were also placed in the tomb. These were small statues of servants who were supposed to come to alive and start working when called upon by the dead person.
STEPS TO MUMMIFICATION
Egyptians also believed that from time to time they would return from the after world and use their earthly bodies again. Meaning it was essential that their bodies be in good condition, so their bodies were mummified to prevent decay.
The mummification process included the following steps:
The mummification process included the following steps:
- Using a crooked piece of iron, carefully draw out the brain through the nostrils
- Make a cut along the frank with a sharp Ethiopian stone and take out the whole contents of the abdomen and cleanse it thoroughly with palm wine
- Fill the cavity with the purest bruised myrrh and every sort of spicery and sew up the opening
- Place the body in nutrom ( nutron) for seventy days completely covered
- After the space of time, wash the body and wrap it from head to food with white bandages of linen cloth, smeared over in gum (used as glue)
- Gently place the body in a wooden case shaped as a figure of a man, sarcophagus, fasten and place the case in a sepulchral chamber upright against the wall with the abdomens and brain, in small bottles, beside it.
sarcophagus layers pots for storing organs mummification in progress