Why did Egyptians preserve their dead as ‘mummies’?

Egyptians believed that human existence continued after death. A person’s immortality was highly dependant on preserving the body to be as ‘lifelike’ as possible, and the body needed to be kept in such a manner as would make it easy for the soul to return to the body after death.

Most important to the process was stopping the body from decomposing. Dehydration and the use of anti-microbial products which inhibit decomposing bacteria were essential. The liver, stomach, lung and intestines were removed, but the heart was left in place because it was believed that it would be weighed in the afterlife to determine how good a person during their time on earth. The organs which were removed were washed treated with spices, most probably to mask the odour, and placed in canopic jars for use in the afterlife. Interestingly, the brain was not considered to be important! It was removed, cut into small pieces and discarded.

It was natron (salt) packed into the body cavities that aided in the rapid dessication of the body. The body was then filled with crushed myrrh, cinnamon, frankincense,sawdust packets mixed with resin, cassia and sometimes even onion! Beeswax was used to cover the eyes, ears and mouth. Liquid resins were poured over the body before wrapping with linen.

The ‘Book of the Dead’ states, “My body is everlasting, it will not perish and it will not decay for ages”. Such finds as the mummy of Tutankhamen attests to the success of the embalming principles adhered to by the Egyptians.

(Image: ancient-origins.net)