Egyptian Mummification Process

The english name "mummy" actually derives from the latin word of mumia, meaning bitumen. Due to the blackened colour of the skin of mummies it was originally thought that bitumen was extensively used in the Egyptian Mummification Process in Ancient Egypt.

The earliest known example of the Egyptian Mummification Process dates back to 3300 bc. The mummy is know as Ginger due to the colour of his hair. It is not known if this attempt at mummification was deliberate or not as this Egyptian mummy was found buried in the desert, the conditions of which are able to naturally preserve a body. Along with the mummy however items of pottery were found which may have been used by those possibly preserving the body showing that this attempt at the early Egyptian Mummification Process was in fact deliberate.

It was during the Middle Egyptian Kingdom that those undertaking the mummification process started to use salts and remove moisture from the body in order to preserve them further as this worked far better than sand. This salt like substance is called natron.

The Mummification Process started with the internal organs of the corpse being removed and stored in jars. The brain was thought to be useless so it was either removed through the nose bit by bit using hooks, alternatively it was liquified and poured out through the nose. Once this was complete those performing the mummification process used the natron to dry the body in order to preserve it. The bodies were then wrapped in strips of linen to protect the body. Canvas sheets were then wrapped around the bodies to protect them further. The mummies were then placed in a sarcophagus with charms which the mummy was to take to the afterlife with the sprit.

The Egyptian mummification process has been performed on around a million animals, the majority of which are cats.







Egyptian Mummification Process The english name "mummy" actually derives from the latin word of mumia, meaning bitumen. Due to the blackened colour of the skin of mummies it was originally thought that bitumen was extensively used in the Egyptian Mummification Process in Ancient Egypt. The earliest known example of the Egyptian Mummification Process dates back to 3300 bc. The mummy is know as Ginger due to the colour of his hair. It is not known if this attempt at mummification was deliberate or not as this Egyptian mummy was found buried in the desert, the conditions of which are able to naturally preserve a body. Along with the mummy however items of pottery were found which may have been used by those possibly preserving the body showing that this attempt at the early Egyptian Mummification Process was in fact deliberate. It was during the Middle Egyptian Kingdom that those undertaking the mummification process started to use salts and remove moisture from the body in order to preserve them further as this worked far better than sand. This salt like substance is called natron. The Mummification Process started with the internal organs of the corpse being removed and stored in jars. The brain was thought to be useless so it was either removed through the nose bit by bit using hooks, alternatively it was liquified and poured out through the nose. Once this was complete those performing the mummification process used the natron to dry the body in order to preserve it. The bodies were then wrapped in strips of linen to protect the body. Canvas sheets were then wrapped around the bodies to protect them further. The mummies were then placed in a sarcophagus with charms which the mummy was to take to the afterlife with the sprit. The Egyptian mummification process has been performed on around a million animals, the majority of which are cats.		Home Tutankhamun Pyramids of Giza Sphinx Abu Simbel Rosetta Stone Temple of Philae Egyptian Mummification



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