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    How Mummies Minilessonl Final Header 1

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    The document summarizes the process of mummification as described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. It explains that the internal organs were removed and placed in Canopic jars. Natron salt was used to dehydrate the body and stop decomposition. The body was then carefully wrapped in linen bandages and placed in an ornate wooden coffin. It was hoped that proper mummification and burial rituals would allow the deceased to reach the afterlife.

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    How Mummies Minilessonl Final Header 1

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    83 views11 pages
    The document summarizes the process of mummification as described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. It explains that the internal organs were removed and placed in Canopic jars. Natron salt was used to dehydrate the body and stop decomposition. The body was then carefully wrapped in linen bandages and placed in an ornate wooden coffin. It was hoped that proper mummification and burial rituals would allow the deceased to reach the afterlife.

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    The document summarizes the process of mummification as described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. It explains that the internal organs were removed and placed in Canopic jars. Natron salt was used to dehydrate the body and stop decomposition. The body was then carefully wrapped in linen bandages and placed in an ornate wooden coffin. It was hoped that proper mummification and burial rituals would allow the deceased to reach the afterlife.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    83 views11 pages

    How Mummies Minilessonl Final Header 1

    Uploaded by

    api-305043199
    The document summarizes the process of mummification as described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. It explains that the internal organs were removed and placed in Canopic jars. Natron salt was used to dehydrate the body and stop decomposition. The body was then carefully wrapped in linen bandages and placed in an ornate wooden coffin. It was hoped that proper mummification and burial rituals would allow the deceased to reach the afterlife.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 11

    How were

    mummies
    made?
    Mini-lesson for schools

    Herodotus (a famous ancient Greek historian) described


    mummification. His words provide us with written evidence
    of this process. The British Museum contains objects and
    documents
    which also
    help
    to understand
    how
    Herodotus
    wrote
    thatusas
    much as possible
    mummies
    were
    made.
    of the
    brain
    is taken out through the
    nostrils with an iron hook. What the hook
    cannot reach is rinsed out with drugs.

    Ancient Egyptians did not understand what the brain was


    for. They needed to take it out to preserve the body.

    Herodotus tells us the next step: the side is cut open with a flint knife and
    the whole contents of the abdomen removed. The space is then
    thoroughly cleansed and washed out, first with palm wine and again with
    liquid containing spices. After that, the space in the body is filled with
    pure myrrh, cassia, and other perfumes except frankincense and sewn
    up again

    They left the heart inside the body. It


    would be needed during the journey to the
    afterlife where it was weighed against the
    feather of truth.

    The organs
    Qebehsenuef
    could be placed
    the falcon-headed
    in Canopic jars god
    to keep
    looks
    them
    aftersafe.
    the intestines.

    Which organHapy
    goes
    each canopic jar?
    Look after
    at the
    theinbaboon-headed
    god looks
    theheads.
    lungs.

    Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomach.

    Imsety the human-headed god looks after the liver.

    Herodotus writes: Then the body is placed in natrum, covered entirely


    over.

    Natron is a natural salt. This


    dehydrated (dried out) the body and
    stopped it rotting. This made sure
    the body was preserved.

    Herodotus continues: when this period is over, the body is washed

    Herodotus says that the body is then wrapped from head to foot in linen
    cut into strips and smeared with gum, which is often used by the
    Egyptians instead of glue.

    The body was


    wrapped very
    carefully to look
    like a human
    figure. This
    shape could be
    used in the
    afterlife if the
    persons body did
    not survive very
    well.

    Amulets were placed in the


    mummy wrappings. These were
    like good luck charms and were
    used to protect the body.

    Herodotus writes that the body is given back to the family, who
    have it put into a wooden case shaped like the human figure.
    The coffin could be painted on the inside
    and outside.

    It could also be decorated with gold.

    The family then took the coffin to the tomb with the hope that the dead person
    would reach the afterlife.

    mummy

    tomb

    family

    objects for
    the tomb

    Now you have finished


    Visit the main Museum website
    www.britishmuseum.org

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