Egyptian Mummies

Egyptian mummies have intrigued and amazed people over the ages and across continents. Their elaborate tombs, the wrapped mummies, and the curse of the mummies have made their way into legends and fascinated both children and adults. Often cartoons depict mummies as hand-stretched, wrapped figures with blazing eyes who chase people who dare enter their tombs. But how were mummies made and why?

Mummymaking in the Egyptian civilization developed over 3000 years. Over this span of time it underwent various changes and was perfected by the 21st Dynasty of the Pharaohs. All the techniques used linen to bandage the body of the person. Removal of the internal organs was introduced later. The four internal organs - liver, lungs, stomach and intestine - were removed from the body, dried and packed in linen. They were preserved in canopic jars or were reinserted into the body. The heart was rarely removed and if so, was packed in linen and replaced inside the body. The brain began to be removed after the 18th Dynasty. The eyes were pushed into the eye socket and was replaced by glass, stone or painted linen. Natron, a salt, was used to dry the body and later a combination of resin and linen was used to cover the mummy. The internal cavities of the body was packed with linen and resin paddings to give it a life-like look as the body shrinked after being dried. This was quite an expensive procedure and other more economic procedures also existed for mummifying non-royal personalities and animals. The face of the mummy was either painted or a mask put over it. Among animals, the Ibis and cat mummies were the most common. There is evidence to suggest that cats were reared specifically for the purpose of being made into mummies. Kittens were the favourite. These mummies were sold to people who wanted to offer them to the gods.

The mummyfication procedure was a long, arduous and expensive process. A large number of spells and chants were used during the whole procedure. There were individual spells that were to be recited during the wrapping of the individual parts of the body, spells that were recited after the completion of mummyfication, while the mummy was put into the sarcophagus, and when the sarcophagus was put into the tomb. For example, Spell 23 that was to be recited when the mummy was taken to the front of the tomb during the Opening of the Mouth ritual goes as follows:

"My mouth is open! My mouth is split open by Shu (god of the air) with that metal "spear" of his that he used to split open the mouth of the gods. I am the Powerful One. I shall sit beside her who is in the great breath of the sky!"

These spells were initially not written down and later, when written down on a scroll of papyrus, was known as the Book of the Dead. The scroll was sometimes placed inside the sarcophagus and the various spells were carved into the body of the sarcophagus.

The ancient Egyptians believed that every person was composed of three elements - body, ba and ka. The body was the physical being of the person. Ba cannot be literally translated but meant "personality" or "character". The ka was the force that gave life. When a person died, his ka would be separated from his ba, and the whole point of mummification and its associated rituals was to help the person's ba to unite with the ka again to form akh, and thus reside with the gods in the afterlife, for which the preservation of the body was essential. The Egyptians believed in afterlife in the Underground, where the sun god, Ra, went every night. Pharoahs were believed to become gods after their death. The Underworld was separated from this world by a wide river that the dead crossed and no one living was allowed there. Since death did not mean the end, but a new birth in another life, the mummy was accompanied by various offerings. The tomb where the mummy was to be placed was filled with objects that the deceased person would need in the afterlife. Sacrifices of animals were also made to please the gods.

Stories and legends are prevalent about the curse of the mummy. It is believed that the mummies do not like being disturbed and those who dare to enter their tombs are cursed with painful death. This belief has sprouted from the prevalence of a large number of spells carved into the sarcophagus. Recent scientific studies show that the long trapped air inside the tomb leads to a massive bacterial growth. This air when inhaled, often leads to a number of diseases if the person is not healthy. The most famous of the legends about the curse of the mummies is related to the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Also, in some tombs, the tombs were booby trapped to prevent grave robbers from looting the belongings of the mummy. The curse of the mummy also forms a favourite theme for Hollywood movie makers, the one example that comes to my mind right now is The Mummy Trilogy. These are very enjoyable movies I tell you.

Mummies form a fascinating subject of study. Ever since childhood I have been intrigued by them. But the Egyptians were not the only one who mummified their dead; the Peruvians also had a ritual of mummification. I shall discuss that sometimes later.