How Ancient Egyptian Mummies Were Made: The Mummification Process

New research and interpretations of ancient texts have once again brought the mummification rituals of ancient Egypt into the spotlight, offering a detailed look at how death was merely a passage to eternal life for the ancients. Considered one of the most advanced and sacred rites in history, the process of preserving a dead body in ancient Egypt was a spiritual and scientific marvel.

Image Credit: MET Museum

The ancient Egyptians viewed death as a temporary pause, not an end. To ensure a smooth transition into the afterlife, they followed a meticulous mummification process, designed to preserve the body and guide the soul. According to new expert interpretations, the quality of preservation varied by one’s social status and wealth, with the elite receiving elaborate treatments that continue to astonish scientists today.

The Mummification Process in Detail

Image Credit: Wikimedia

For high-ranking individuals, the process began with washing the body in a blend of water and salt. Embalmers then removed the brain using a hook inserted through the nostrils — a delicate and symbolic act. Surprisingly, the brain was discarded, while the heart was kept intact, believed to be the guiding force in the afterlife.

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The stomach, intestines, lungs, and liver were carefully extracted and preserved in canopic jars — each protected by one of the four sons of Horus: Hapi (lungs), Duamutef (stomach), Imsety (liver), and Qebehsenuef (intestines).

The four sons of Horus: (from left) Imsety, Duamutef, Hapy, and Qebehsenuef. / Image Credit: Wikimedia

The body was then treated with aromatic spices like myrrh and cassia, sewn back together, and packed in natron, a natural salt used to dehydrate and preserve the body for up to 70 days. Once shriveled, the corpse was restuffed with linen and sawdust to restore its shape. The skin was oiled for a lifelike appearance, and glass or stone eyes and wigs were added. Finally, the body was coated in resin to prevent mold, wrapped in linen, and adorned with a personalized funerary mask before being placed in a wooden coffin or stone sarcophagus.

A Class-Based System of Preservation

While the upper class enjoyed this extensive preservation, the middle class had access to more cost-effective methods. One technique included injecting cedar oil into the body, which dissolved internal organs. The body was then salted with natron and returned to the family for burial.

Elite tombs also featured personal items meant for use in the afterlife — including jewelry, clothes, weapons, and even pets like cats and dogs, who were mummified and buried alongside their owners.

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Ancient Science Still Standing Today

Experts say the skill of Egyptian embalmers was so refined that some mummies still retain recognizable features over 3,000 years later. Recent CT scans and forensic examinations confirm that the embalming techniques were advanced even by modern standards.

Archaeologists and historians continue to study mummification rituals, shedding new light on Egypt’s spiritual beliefs and the incredible craftsmanship behind each preserved body.

This latest discovery not only elicits praise for the ingenuity of ancient Egyptians but also gives a deeper understanding of how human beings have considered death an afterlife for millennia. As researchers unlock more secrets from the sands of Egypt, the mummies silently tell stories about a civilization that had become obsessed with immortality- and astonishingly close to achieving it.

SOURCES: Smithsonian Institution / Wikipedia