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Preparing For the Next World
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The Egyptians believed that after a person died, he would live again in a kind of heaven. There, he would need the same things that he needed in Egypt, including his body. When an important person died, priests performed many ceremonies to help the dead person on his journey to a happy life in the next world.
The priests of Anubis preserved the body by 'mummification.' This took about two months. The mummy was wrapped in strips of linen and placed inside a wooden coffin. That went into a stone coffin, which was carried to the tomb on a sled. Afterward, the burial chamber was blocked up.
The tomb was a 'home' for the dead. Every day, priests said prayers, provided food, and guarded the dead man's household goods that were buried with him.
(A) ANUBIS
The priest in charge of the mummification wore the mask of Anubis (the god of the dead).
(B) INCENSE
A priest stands by, holding sweet-smelling incense.
(C) WRAPPING THE BODY
The body, or mummy, was wrapped in layers of linen before being placed in the coffin.
(D) NATRON
Natron, a kind of soda, was placed in the body to dry it out before it was wrapped in linen.
(E) SOAKING THE BANDAGES
Sometimes, linen strips were soaked in plaster so they would harden when dry.
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Previous:
Back
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Book:
The Egyptians
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Section:
Ancient Egypt
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Chapter:
Preparing for the Next World
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