Mummies

= = =MUMMIES= by Audrey Wrisley

Do you like mummies? Well I love them. As you might know, mummies are just basically dead people that somebody embalmed. The process in which the Egyptians embalmed the dead might be considered fascinating. In step one, they take dead person's brain out through their nose using long, porcupine, quill-like tweezers. The brain is dry so, it is smaller and easier to remove. The brain is stored in canopic jar. All other organs, except the heart are also placed in canopic jars. Egyptians believe that the heart is needed in the after world. These jars have pictures of Egyptian Gods painted on them. In step two, the body is cover with spices. For step three, a foamy, squishy, protective gauze is wrapped around only the face of the body. This prevents bacteria from entering the skull. In step four, a more stiff gauze is wrapped around the whole body, including the head. During step five, a coffin is brought in to place the body. This coffin is placed in a second coffin. Finally, the body and its coffins are placed inside a large stone sarcophagus in the tomb. Furniture, clothing, jewels, food and drinks are put in the tomb.

 Let's talk about the people who ruled Egypt in ancient times. Every Phar aoh had to build his own tomb and sarcophagus prior to their death. Every priest that prayed for the Pharaoh had to say a special prayer over their dead body. Whenever Egyptians went to war it was the Pharaoh who lead it. If the war was won, the Pharaoh was considered a great political and religious leader and was offered the finest things. He was also known as the "High Priest" of every temple and represented Egyptian Gods on earth. Because everyone thought highly of the Pharaoh, the received better treatment during the mummification process. The spices and oils put on them during the burial process were a better quality than everyone else. They were also buried with more jewels, amulets and gold.