Writing Example
Informative Report - Social Studies
Mummification
Egyptians believed in life after death. For this reason, the Egyptians developed their complex mummification process. They believed that everyone had a soul which they called the "BA" and the "Ka". It was believed that the "BA" had the head of a human and the body of a bird. The "Ka" was the twin of every person. The "BA" and the "Ka" believed that they were released from the body at the time after death. In order for the "BA" and the "Ka" to rest at night, the body could not be allowed to decay. In other words, the Egyptians believed that in order for the person to live for eternity after death, they had to preserve the body. The process of mummification was invented to preserve the body indefinitely. Mummification was reserved for the Pharaohs and nobles exclusively. Royalty was mummified because they believed that after death they became gods and wanted their bodies to rule for all eternity. The destiny of ordinary people was much different. When ordinary people died, they were simply buried in desert sand. This preserved them naturally, but not indefinitely.
The mummification ritual was performed by four priests. One of the four priests was dressed up as the Jackal Headed God, Anubis. The inner organs of the dead person were removed first, since this part began to decay immediately in the intense Egyptian heat. Next, the Priests removed the brain through the nose. The brain was discarded because they did not know what it was used for. The remaining organs were then put into decorated containers called Canopic Jars. A special salt called Natron was added to the jars to preserve the organs. Sometimes the heart was left in the body, or it was replaced by a carved stone called a Scarab. Linen cloth was put in the spaces were the organs were missing. Finally, the Priests covered the body with natron and let it dry for about forty days. The nostrils were then stuffed with wax. The body was wrapped, decorated, and ceremoniously placed in the tomb.
By Samantha