embalming

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The ancient Egyptians believed that death was a continuation of life. As long as the body was properly preserved, the soul of the deceased would return to the body at a specific moment, enabling the deceased to be reborn. Based on this concept, the ancient Egyptians invented the method of making mummies, which is a kind of corpse embalming technique.

The specific process is rather complex. First, a metal hook is inserted into the nostril of the corpse to extract part of the brain matter, and then embalming drugs are injected into the cranial cavity. Next, an obsidian knife is used to make an incision on the side of the abdomen of the corpse to remove the internal organs. The abdominal cavity is washed twice with palm wine and crushed spices respectively. After that, the cavity is filled with crushed myrrh and other spices, and then the incision is sewn up. Then, the body is smeared with potassium nitrate for a dehydration process that lasts for 70 days. After that, the body is washed clean and wrapped with linen bandages coated with gum. Various amulets are placed between the bandages, and papyrus scrolls with incantations, such as the Book of the Dead, are placed between the hands or legs. The internal organs taken out from the body are embalmed and then placed separately in canopic jars made of limestone. The heart, after being embalmed, is put back into the thoracic cavity. Finally, the relatives place the body in a customized human-shaped wooden coffin and stand it upright in the tomb chamber.