An Old Kingdom funerary text
Ancient Egyptians believed in three essential human elements, the ka (the 'double' of the person), the ba (the soul) and the akh (the spirit). To make the transition into the next life these elements had to be reunited in the body, so the body needed to be preserved.
The process of treating the body (which led to mummification) was established in the Early Dynastic period (5100 - 4686 years ago) and remained the preferred method into Roman times (2030 1400 years ago). The New Kingdom period (1567-1085 BCE) saw the practice at its most prominent.
The method used in the New Kingdom period was carried out by priests and took 70 days to complete. The internal organs (excluding the heart) were removed, then the brain through the nose, then the abdominal organs through a cavity cut into the left side of the abdomen. These organs were treated and dehydrated with natron (a natural mixture of carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate of sodium) before being dried, anointed and immersed in molten resin.
The body was packed in natron and fragrant resins. To completely dehydrate the body took 40 days. The body cavities were then packed with a combination of resin-soaked linen, bags of spices or sawdust. The body was anointed with unguents before being treated with molten resin. Finally, the body was wrapped with bandages. Wrapping could take at least two weeks to complete and take up to 300 metres of cloth.
The gods and goddesses played a vital role in Egyptian life. The story of Osiris (the Egyptian god of death, resurrection and fertility) determined the ritual for preparing the dead for the next world. Embalming was the most common method used but was generally restricted to those who could afford it. 'Canopic' jars for storing the internal organs represented the four sons of Horus (son of Osiris and god of kingship). Anubis, either depicted as a jackal or a jackal-headed human, was the patron of embalming and responsible for leading the dead to the afterlife.
Scarab beetles were associated with eternal life. This is probably because of the way they were observed to spring out of the ground when born. Winged or heart-shaped scarab beetle amulets were often placed on the chest or over the heart of a mummy.
The journey to the afterlife involved intricate preparation. Boat models were commonly placed in tombs during the Middle Kingdom Period (3991 - 2786 years ago). They provided a means of transportation to the underworld.
This mummy is over 2000 years old. X-ray photography revealed that it is a man's body that shows early signs of arthritis and dental decay. The cause of the man's death is not known.
Interestingly, the scenes painted on the coffin refer to the deceased as a woman. The hieroglyphs on the coffin show the deceased making various offerings to the gods of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon, including Osiris and Isis. Other symbols important to this religious system are also represented. During the Saite Period, mass mummification was becoming the norm. However, previously, it was restricted primarily to the upper levels of Egyptian society. It may be that when the time came to place the mummy into the coffin for burial, one of a suitable size was not available, and therefore he was placed in a coffin originally designed for a woman. Alternatively, the mummy may have been removed from his original coffin at a later date.
Images: 2 x-rays of the mummy - one of the head and one of the knees
Amulets were believed to have special powers to protect the body and bring luck. Some amulets were worn in daily life, but there were also special funerary amulets which often featured important gods and goddesses. Funerary amulets and spell scripts were often placed in the wrappings of mummies to help on the journey to the afterlife.
Ushabti figures were made in the image of the deceased and acted as servants in the afterlife. They performed agricultural chores that followed the annual flooding of the Nile, which was important in the world of the living and of the dead.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2008
