mummification

=﻿__Process of Mummification:__= The process of mummification has 7 steps.
 * 1) __Announcement of death:__ A messenger was sent out to announce the death. Thiss allowed people to get ready for the mourning period and ceremony.
 * 2) __Embalming the body:__ Embalmers were in special tents or buildings. The embalming was maintained by teams of priests. Some times the body would smell so bad they would have to go outside.
 * 3) __Removal of the brain:__ Egyptians thought that they brain was a waste of space. To take out the brain, a hook was inserted through the nose and pulled out. When most of it was out they put it into a jar of water to dissolve.
 * 4) __Removal of internal organs:__ The liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines were removed next. They would make a slit on the left side abdomen and pull them out. each orgon was mummified and put into their own little coffin, they were protected by the 4 sons of Horus. Imset protected the liver, he had the head of a human. Ha'py watched over the lungs, he had the head of a baboon. Duamutef looked after the stomach, he had the head of a jackal. Qebehsenuef looked over the intestines, he had the head of a falcon.
 * 5) __Drying out process:__ The body would be placed on a slab and coverd with nacron or natron salt, then it would be tilted so that the water would run off into a basin. Then the body would be taken outside to let dry for 40 days.
 * 6) __Wrapping of the body:__ The body was covered with oils, and a gold peice. The Eye of Horus was placed over the slit in the abdomen. Hundreds of yards of linen were used to wrap the body, each toe and finger was wrapped separatley. Charms, amulets, and inscribed pieces of papyrus were placed between each layer of bandage. Egyptians believed that these charms had magical properties would protect and bring luck to the body. The wrapping process would be stopped every once in a while so that the priests could say certain prayers and write on the linen. A final shroud was placed on the mummy to keep all the wrappings together. Mummia was added to the shroud to "glue" it all together. (That's where the word "mummy" comes from.) Sometimes false eyes were inserted and make-up was applied. Then a painted portrait mask was placed over the mummy's head so that dead person's soul could recognize its body. The mummy was then placed into a painted, decorated coffin.
 * 7) __Final procession:__ The final procession was where the family and friends of the mummy walked through the town on their way to the burial place. Mourners were paid to cry so that the gods of the other world would see that the person was well loved. The more people who cried, the more he was loved, and the better chance he had of going to the after world. Before the mummy was taken inside the tomb, a ceremony called the "Opening of the Mouth" took place.

__﻿Opening of the Mouth__
The Opening of the Mouth was performed by priests outside the burial chamber. This was one of the most important preparations. The family of the mummy recited spells while the priests used special tools to touch different parts of the mummy's face. The Egyptians believed that the mummy would not be able to eat, see, hear, or move in the afterlife if this ceremony did not take place. The mummy was then put in the burial chamber along with all of he/shes belongings, and the Book of the Dead. The Book of the Dead was not actually a book, but a collection of over 200 magic spells written on papyrus. It contained instructions on how to acheive eternal life. After all this, the tomb was sealed.