Egyptian mummification and tombs
In ancient Egypt, the concept of a world existing after death was of great importance. They not only believed that your soul or “ka[1]and ba[2]” continued to exist after death but also pleasures once obtained in life were necessary in death such as food and liquid. Therefore, many possessions from life accompanied the deceased in burial (Carrol, 2007).
However, in order to continue life after death the ka and the ba must have a well-preserved body to re-enter. This necessity led to the development of the mummification process (Carrol, 2007). The preservation of the mummy was extremely important. If the body deteriorated or was damaged after burial the ba and ka would be no more, life after death would not be possible. This was unacceptable to the Egyptians (Perl, 1987). According to Dunn, the Egyptians theorized the best way to preserve the mummy was to remove all organs except for the heart. This was due to the belief the organs would cause the body to deteriorate. Following the extraction of the organs[3] they were placed into four vessels called “canopic jars.” The stoppers[4] of these vessels were typically sculpted human heads. However, during the New Kingdom era, Perl stated the stoppers being fashioned as the four sons of Horus. Another difference at this time was some of the hearts taken out and mummified separate from the body. In this case a scarab[5] shaped carved stone was put in the original resting place of the heart (Perl, 1987). After the body was fully prepped it was wrapped and bandaged. The wrapping also covered any jewelry or amulets that had been placed upon the mummy for protection and to ensure the afterlife (Perl, 1987). A mask was then placed upon the face so the ba and ka could recognize its body (Dunn, 2010).
After the mummification process was complete the wrapped corpse would be place within a coffin. Throughout Egyptian history there were several types of coffins. The anthropoid coffin shaped as the deceased and thought to provide an alternate body in case something unexpected happened to the mummy. The rishi or feathered coffin mimicked the textured representation of the ba’s bird form and was often used in combination with the anthropoid shape. The stone sarcophagi took on a box shape resembling a shrine with hieroglyphic carved upon its surfaces. As Egyptians progressed they began using these coffins in combination placing an anthropoid coffin within a larger sarcophagus (Dunn, 2010).
At times varieties of ritualistic objects accompanied the mummy and its coffin within its final resting place, a tomb. These objects would range from statues of gods, guardians and deceased. Statues of the deceased, just as the anthropoid coffin, were designed for an alternate body if something happened to the mummy. Other ritualistic objects included shabti figures, which were “magical” fieldworkers, Osiris beds which contained grain seeds[6], amulet vessels or modeled armies with knives and swords. Believing they could continue their status in the afterlife Egyptians thought it necessary to be well prepared with the essentials of life. Due to this, ordinary items based on the deceased’s interests were also found within their tombs to assure deceased’s afterlife would be at the same level of comfort as he once lived. Common items found within this category were clothing, shoes, jewelry, perfumes, cosmetics, games, musical instruments, writing materials, heirlooms, fine tableware, precious metals, pottery, glass and food. Some of the food included varied from preserved meats, grain, fruit, wine and beer. Furniture was also included such as chairs, beds, boxes, chests, baskets and lamps (Dunn, 2010).
[1] The Ka was a twin soul that lived in the body until death. Once death took its body, the Ka would be restricted to its tomb where it would require food in order to live on (Perl, 1987).
[2] The Ba was second form of the soul. After passing it could leave its tomb and take on many different forms, the most common being a bird with the head of the deceased (Perl, 1987).
[3] The organs that would be extracted and placed in jars were the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines. (Dunn, 2010)
[4] Stoppers refer to the lid of the canopic jars.
[5] A scarab was the Egyptian symbol for immortality. This was due to their eggs laid in a heap of dung and birth of rising out of this pile seen as a miracle by Egyptians (Perl, 1987).
[6] Osiris beds are wooden trays in the form of Osiris, the god of the dead. They were planted with grain seeds expected to flourish after the tomb was sealed (Dunn, 2010).
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