Ancient Egypt is not only famous for the Pyramids but also famous for the custom of embalming the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Through many different stages of embalming, we can not help but shiver and really get goosebumps with this custom.
The art of embalming was born in Egypt from the time of the Old Kingdom around 2700 BC and lasted until the 5th century AD.

According to the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, although people die, their souls are still immortal. They believe that in the body of each person there is a soul “ka” that follows the body like a shadow. When a person dies, “ka” will leave the body and begin an independent life.

Only when the body is completely destroyed will “ka” die, but if the body is preserved, “ka” will one day return to the body and the person will be resurrected. Because of this belief, the ancient Egyptians had the custom of mummifying the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (momi) to keep the body from rotting forever.

There were people who specialized in mummifying the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. First, the worker inserted an iron hook through the nostrils to the brain of the deceased, took out all the brains, then poured a special liquid into the head to clean the skull.

Then, they used a very sharp stone knife to cut open the stomach, took out all the intestines, except for the heart which was kept in the chest, then washed the stomach with wine and perfume, stuffed the perfume into the stomach and sewed it up.

The brain and internal organs were stored in four jars. The Egyptians believed that the heart was the center of intelligence and emotions, so it had to be kept in the chest until the final judgment.

The body was soaked in salt water for 70 days. The body shriveled up, leaving only skin and bones. After rubbing perfume and chemicals on the mummy, people wrapped the body тιԍнтly with cloth bandages.

The fingers were placed in a gold bag to prevent them from falling off. Then, the corpse was placed in a wooden or stone coffin.

To make it easier for the “ka” to recognize their “momi”, the image of the deceased was carved on the lid of the coffin. The head of the coffin was carved according to the face of the deceased. The body was carved or painted with patterns like clothes, so the coffin looked like a statue of a person without limbs.

At first, mummification was the exclusive right of kings and queens. From 1500 BC, the bodies of nobles were also mummified. Later, the custom of mummification spread to the wealthy in society.

These mummies can remain intact for thousands of years. Recently, the Egyptian Museum in the capital city of Cairo displayed 26 mummies of Pharaohs who were buried 4,000 – 5,000 years ago, still well preserved.