HOW TO MAKE A MUMMY
All images and steps are from www.ancientegypt.co.uk
STEP 1
First, his body is taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There the embalmers wash his body with good-smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile.
STEP 2
One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose.
STEP 3
The body is now covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out. All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process will be saved and buried along with the body.
STEP 4
After forty days the body is washed again with water from the Nile. Then it is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.
STEP 5
The dehydrated internal organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the body. The body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike. Finally the body is covered again with good-smelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen.
STEP 6
In the past, when the internal organs were removed from a body they were placed in hollow canopic jars. Over many years the embalming practices changed and embalmers began returning internal organs to bodies after the organs had been dried in natron. However, solid wood or stone canopic jars were still buried with the mummy to symbolically protect the internal organs.
*Canopic jars were Jars used to hold internal organs. The lids of canopic jars represented four gods called the "four sons of Horus"
STEP 7
First the head and neck are wrapped with strips of fine linen. Then the fingers and the toes are individually wrapped.
STEP 8
The arms and legs are wrapped separately. Between the layers of wrapping, the embalmers place amulets to protect the body in its journey through the underworld.
STEP 9
A priest reads spells out loud while the mummy is being wrapped. These spells will help ward off evil spirits and help the deceased make the journey to the afterlife.
STEP 10
The arms and legs are tied together. A papyrus scroll with spells from the Book of the Dead is placed between the wrapped hands.
STEP 11
More linen strips are wrapped around the body. At every layer, the bandages are painted with liquid resin that helps to glue the bandages together.
STEP 12
A cloth is wrapped around the body and a picture of the god Osiris is painted on its surface.
STEP 13
Finally, a large cloth is wrapped around the entire mummy. It is attached with strips of linen that run from the top to the bottom of the mummy, and around its middle. A board of painted wood is placed on top of the mummy before the mummy is lowered into its coffin. The first coffin is then put inside a second coffin.
STEP 14
The funeral is held for the deceased and his family mourns his death
"Egyptian Gods and Goddess -- Horus and Ra look exactly the same, but the emblem is different; the same is true for the three goddess, Nephthys, Isis and Hathor, can be identified by the emblem on their heads. Ra, Khepra, Auf, and Atum (Temu) are images of the god Ra; Ra means sun."
- http://www.hiddenfact.com/ra.htm
- http://www.hiddenfact.com/ra.htm
SOURCE: http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/pyramid2.htm
How did religion influence every aspect of ancient Egyptian life?:
Religion influenced every aspect of Egyptian community because the Egyptians thought the gods had rules that they needed to follow. This limited the things that people could do because they thought the gods wouldn't approve of their ways of life. Some examples are that, due to their beliefs, the Pharaoh held an immense amount of power. This would mean that the pharaoh would have to approve the requests made by the residents. In addition, the priests in Ancient Egypt were also very powerful. When things were going well, the people believed that the priest and pharaoh were doing their jobs well. However, when things seemed to turn around after many days of worshiping, they would blame the priests for the inauspicious happening because they thought the gods sending signs that things aren't right. The changes in the civilization were partly made because of "messages sent from the gods and goddesses." Overall, all the rules and ways of life were created from signs that gods and goddesses had sent to the pharaohs/ priests, and the pharaohs become held with the responsibility to change the way of the civilization at the time.
What are 3-5 characteristics of the ancient Egyptian religion/belief system (i.e. gods and goddesses, legends, view of the afterlife, etc.)?
One characteristic of the ancient Egyptian belief system is that the Egyptians believed that there was a god for almost everything. As www.ancientegypt.co.uk states “The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to recognize and worship these gods and goddesses so that life continued smoothly." All the gods that the ancient Egyptians believed in were believed to be vital to the peaceful kingdom they had. Another characteristic of the ancient Egyptian belief system was that they believed the pharaohs were sons of the sun god, Ra, and they worshiped the pharaohs as god. This illustrates the importance of a ruler that ties the kingdom together. The pharaoh was respected the same way as god because he or she provided peace and justice, keeping them from chaos. Lastly, another characteristic is that Ancient Egyptian beliefs consisted of many unique and different beliefs concerning the afterlife. One of these was life after death, in other words, afterlife. "They believed they could only reach their full potential after death."(Ancient Egyptian Religion) Believing that you can only reach your full potential in the afterlife is a very strong belief that they had. "Furniture, carved statues, games, food, and other items useful to the next life were prepared to be buried with the mummy. The last ritual performed by the priest on the mummy was called the "Opening of the Mouth." This ceremony was to magically give the deceased the ability to speak and eat again, and to have full use of his body."(Ancient Egyptian Religion) This belief shows that the Egyptians strongly believed in the afterlife. "Because their religion stressed an afterlife, Egyptians devoted much time and wealth to preparing for survival in the next world."(Ancient Egyptian Religion) While Egyptians could devote their lives to other things, they focused on obeying the gods. By stressing their lives over preparation for the afterlife, they could have used all that other time to live life to its fullest.
Why and how were the pyramids built, and how does it connect to the Egyptian religion/belief system?
The Egyptians built the pyramids for their pharaohs. The pyramids were the resting place for the pharaohs, but also for everything that he might need for his afterlife. According to history.com, (http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/the-egyptian-pyramids), it states, "Ancient Egyptians believed that when the king died, part of his spirit (known as “ka”) remained with his body. To properly care for his spirit, the corpse was mummified, and everything the king would need in the afterlife was buried with him, including gold vessels, food, furniture and other offerings. The pyramids became the focus of a cult of the dead king that was supposed to continue well after his death. Their riches would provide not only for him, but also for the relatives, officials and priests who were buried near him." This proves that the Egyptians believed that respect for their pharaohs was very important and providing him or her a grand burial, and supplying him or her everything he or she might need in his afterlife. It connected to Egyptian belief systems because offering goods and respect to the pharaoh, would be given among all respected buried there. That is one of the reason that pyramids were first (and continued to be) built. The pyramids were built by about 2,000 workers, and it took them many years to build a pyramid. Building a pyramid was a very hard and time- taking task, and it required a lot of effort. Each block had to be cut out and then carefully placed to make a shape of a pyramid. As construction developed, smooth-sided pyramids were able to be built much more easily. The building of the pyramids connects to the Egyptian belief system because of the Egyptians belief in the afterlife, or building their leader a burial for his or her afterlife using pyramids.That is why the building of the pyramids were primarily because of the Egyptian belief system.
Religion influenced every aspect of Egyptian community because the Egyptians thought the gods had rules that they needed to follow. This limited the things that people could do because they thought the gods wouldn't approve of their ways of life. Some examples are that, due to their beliefs, the Pharaoh held an immense amount of power. This would mean that the pharaoh would have to approve the requests made by the residents. In addition, the priests in Ancient Egypt were also very powerful. When things were going well, the people believed that the priest and pharaoh were doing their jobs well. However, when things seemed to turn around after many days of worshiping, they would blame the priests for the inauspicious happening because they thought the gods sending signs that things aren't right. The changes in the civilization were partly made because of "messages sent from the gods and goddesses." Overall, all the rules and ways of life were created from signs that gods and goddesses had sent to the pharaohs/ priests, and the pharaohs become held with the responsibility to change the way of the civilization at the time.
What are 3-5 characteristics of the ancient Egyptian religion/belief system (i.e. gods and goddesses, legends, view of the afterlife, etc.)?
One characteristic of the ancient Egyptian belief system is that the Egyptians believed that there was a god for almost everything. As www.ancientegypt.co.uk states “The ancient Egyptians believed that it was important to recognize and worship these gods and goddesses so that life continued smoothly." All the gods that the ancient Egyptians believed in were believed to be vital to the peaceful kingdom they had. Another characteristic of the ancient Egyptian belief system was that they believed the pharaohs were sons of the sun god, Ra, and they worshiped the pharaohs as god. This illustrates the importance of a ruler that ties the kingdom together. The pharaoh was respected the same way as god because he or she provided peace and justice, keeping them from chaos. Lastly, another characteristic is that Ancient Egyptian beliefs consisted of many unique and different beliefs concerning the afterlife. One of these was life after death, in other words, afterlife. "They believed they could only reach their full potential after death."(Ancient Egyptian Religion) Believing that you can only reach your full potential in the afterlife is a very strong belief that they had. "Furniture, carved statues, games, food, and other items useful to the next life were prepared to be buried with the mummy. The last ritual performed by the priest on the mummy was called the "Opening of the Mouth." This ceremony was to magically give the deceased the ability to speak and eat again, and to have full use of his body."(Ancient Egyptian Religion) This belief shows that the Egyptians strongly believed in the afterlife. "Because their religion stressed an afterlife, Egyptians devoted much time and wealth to preparing for survival in the next world."(Ancient Egyptian Religion) While Egyptians could devote their lives to other things, they focused on obeying the gods. By stressing their lives over preparation for the afterlife, they could have used all that other time to live life to its fullest.
Why and how were the pyramids built, and how does it connect to the Egyptian religion/belief system?
The Egyptians built the pyramids for their pharaohs. The pyramids were the resting place for the pharaohs, but also for everything that he might need for his afterlife. According to history.com, (http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/the-egyptian-pyramids), it states, "Ancient Egyptians believed that when the king died, part of his spirit (known as “ka”) remained with his body. To properly care for his spirit, the corpse was mummified, and everything the king would need in the afterlife was buried with him, including gold vessels, food, furniture and other offerings. The pyramids became the focus of a cult of the dead king that was supposed to continue well after his death. Their riches would provide not only for him, but also for the relatives, officials and priests who were buried near him." This proves that the Egyptians believed that respect for their pharaohs was very important and providing him or her a grand burial, and supplying him or her everything he or she might need in his afterlife. It connected to Egyptian belief systems because offering goods and respect to the pharaoh, would be given among all respected buried there. That is one of the reason that pyramids were first (and continued to be) built. The pyramids were built by about 2,000 workers, and it took them many years to build a pyramid. Building a pyramid was a very hard and time- taking task, and it required a lot of effort. Each block had to be cut out and then carefully placed to make a shape of a pyramid. As construction developed, smooth-sided pyramids were able to be built much more easily. The building of the pyramids connects to the Egyptian belief system because of the Egyptians belief in the afterlife, or building their leader a burial for his or her afterlife using pyramids.That is why the building of the pyramids were primarily because of the Egyptian belief system.