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Written By: Janae Stringer
History isn't boring if you're learning the right way. Take for example, did you know that humans weren't the only ones that were mummified? In 1888, an Egyptian farmer accidentally uncovered a large tomb containing thousands upon thousands of mummified cats and kittens. This discovery, outside the town of Beni Hasan, contained around eighty thousand cat bodies that date back to 1000-2000 BC.
You may wonder why Egyptians mummified animals. One of the most popular misconceptions about ancient Egyptians is that they worshiped animals such as cats, dogs, and birds. Some animals, such as the Apis bull, may have been sacred, but the majority were not. Instead, as in many religions, animals symbolized certain gods and—just like figurines of animals in bronze, terracotta, faience, or other materials—their mummies served as votive offerings to those gods.
When a person or animal dies bacteria on the body causes it to decompose, eventually leaving just the skeleton behind. Because Egyptians valued life after death they had an important ritual to protect the bodies. Ancient Egyptians believed they should provide their dead with a well-functioning body in the after life. Ancient Egyptians believed that they had a soul, which they called the KA. They believed the Ka was released from the body at the time of death. From then on the KA did not stay peacefully in one place. In order for the Ka to rest in the body at night, the body had to be preserved or mummified.
In the Predynastic Period (circa 4400–3100 B.C.), the Egyptians buried their dead in simple desert graves. They may have developed mummification to imitate the natural process that occurred when the sand in these graves absorbed the bodily fluids. Another theory suggests that mummification resulted from a desire to preserve the appearance of the body. This is supported by the discovery of some Old Kingdom mummies covered in plaster and paint to preserve the deceased’s image. In either case, the Egyptians began attempting to preserve the body by artificial means in the Early Dynastic Period (circa 3100–2675 B.C.). During the Old Kingdom (circa 2675–2170 B.C.), the practice of removing the organs to inhibit decomposition began. Embalmers also began experimenting with a naturally occurring salt called natron to dry out the body. By the Middle Kingdom (circa 2008–1630 B.C.), natron allowed the preservation of skin and some muscle tissue. The practice of removing the brain through the nose became standard by the New Kingdom (circa 1539–1075 B.C.).
By the New Kingdom, the mummification process took seventy days from death to funeral. First the organs were removed, except for the heart, which the Egyptians believed to be the seat of thought and emotion. The lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines were washed with wine and rubbed with spices. The alcohol in the wine acted as an antiseptic, helping to kill bacteria. The corpse was then covered with natron for 40 days to dry out. Once dried, the skin was shrunken, wrinkled, and leathery. The mummy was cleaned one more time and rubbed with sacred oils to soften the skin.
After the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines were washed, soaked in a natron solution, and bandaged, they were placed in containers called canopic jars made especially for this purpose.
The stoppers of canopic jars were shaped like the heads of the four sons of the god Horus. Each son protected the organ placed inside his respective jar. Duamutef, who had the head of a jackal, guarded the jar that contained the stomach. Qebehsenuf, who had the head of a falcon, watched over the intestines. Hapi, the baboon-headed son of Horus, protected the lungs, while human-headed Imseti was in charge of protecting the liver. Canopic jars were usually stored in a chest that was later placed in the tomb with the mummy.
After the body was fully dried and cleaned, it was adorned with jewelry. Then it was covered in linen shrouds and bound with linen strips. During some time periods, the name of the mummy would be written on the ends of the bandages— an ancient practice that has helped modern Egyptologists identify certain mummies! When the Greeks and Romans occupied Egypt in the very late periods of its history, arranging the linen wrappings in neat geometric patterns was popular.
Small magical amulets were inserted between the layers of the bandages to further protect the mummy so the ka could be guaranteed to live forever. As each layer was added, it was coated with a sap called resin to hold the wrappings together with a waterproof seal.
The body was dried out with natron. After forty days, it was moved to another site where the cranial cavity was packed with resin-soaked linen and the body cavity with linen packets of sawdust or myrrh, an aromatic gum mixture obtained from a tree. The skin was treated with natron again, rubbed with the preservatives cedar oil, wax, and gum, and then coated with liquid resin to seal the pores. Finally, the body was wrapped in bandages while priests recited spells and placed amulets on it. The linen wrappings associated the deceased directly with Osiris, god of the underworld, whose dismembered body had been bound together and magically reconstituted by Isis. When the bandaging was completed on the sixty-eighth day, the body was placed in its coffin and the funeral rites began.
Our
Amazing Mummies Art & History Kit is a perfect learning kit for kids
8 years old and up. With this kit, you can make your own royal mummy! It
allows kids to create a Royal Mummy from the inside out and wrap the
pharaoh the way the ancient Egyptians did. Of course, it doesn't make
you do the dirty work, but it is still really fun! You can paint his
gold facemask and coffin then display your mummy in its own "carved
stone" resting place. Set includes Mummy Mold, Mask, Coffin, Display
Box, Casting Compound, Muslin, Finishing Tools, a 48-Page Mummy Book
that Illustrates fun and interesting facts, paints, and even
instructions. We highly recommend this arts and crafts set for kids who
are learning about mummy's in history class or just want to have fun!
We found a cute Kids King Tut Hat to be a very pleasing costume hat for kids. We found it to be great for classroom presentations, school plays, or even dress-up. The hat is size adjustable for different sized or growing heads and features a secret pocket for additional fun. The King Tut Hat features a Cobra head in the front covered with gold foil-type material. We found this hat to be a great play addition with the Cobra staff (sold separately in stores).
Another
fun Egyptian Toy we found was the
Ancient Egypt Toob. Vendors say
they're a great addition to all the toobs and for educational use in
schools, but they are mostly used for themed birthday parties as
additions in the party sacks.
If you're wanting a fun challenge, the
Egyptians Magnetic Stacking
Sculpture is a great fiddle toy for children or even adults! This
popular magnetic mini sculpture develops hand-eye coordination with
unlimited configurations possible. This magnetic sculpture building set
includes dazzling icons of Ancient Egypt such as pyramids, sphinx cat,
and other symbolic icons to help provide hours of fun and entertainment.
It comes complete with an educational pamphlet.
So never stop asking why and you will never stop learning. Never limit yourself on how much information you want to intake, and you will be wiser than the next person.
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