The ancient Egyptian practice of mummification was a deliberate process designed to preserve the physical body, which was necessary for the deceased’s ka (life-force) and ba (soul) to transition into the afterlife. This meticulous procedure, reserved primarily for the elite, was a lengthy ritual cycle. The entire transformation required a span of approximately 70 days from the moment of death to the final interment. This fixed duration was tied to astronomical observations, specifically the period the star Sothis (Sirius) was absent from the night sky. The 70-day timeline was carefully divided into several distinct phases, each with a practical function and ritualistic significance.
Initial Preparation and Purification
The first stage began immediately after death, focusing on preventing rapid decay caused by internal moisture and bacteria. This initial preparation phase was the shortest, typically lasting only a few days. The body was transported to a specialized tent, known as the Ibu or “Place of Purification,” where it was ritually cleansed with palm wine and water from the Nile.
The next step involved the surgical removal of internal organs, which were the first to decompose. An incision was made on the left flank to access the abdominal cavity. Embalmers removed the stomach, liver, intestines, and lungs, but deliberately left the heart in place, believing it to be the seat of intellect and emotion. The brain was extracted by inserting a hooked instrument through the nostrils to break up the tissue before draining it out. The removed organs were dried and stored in four separate canopic jars for preservation.
The Long Period of Dehydration
Following evisceration, the body entered the longest and most transformative phase: dehydration, spanning approximately 35 to 40 days. This extended period was necessary to remove nearly all remaining moisture from the tissues, which drives decomposition. The body cavity was rinsed, packed with temporary materials, and the exterior was completely covered with natron.
Natron is a naturally occurring salt mixture, harvested from dry lake beds, composed primarily of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Its hygroscopic properties allowed it to act as an aggressive drying agent, drawing water out of the body’s cells. Hundreds of pounds were needed to fully submerge a body. Over the five to six weeks, the natron dried the body and saponified some fatty tissues, halting bacterial action and ensuring the body would remain intact.
Anointing, Wrapping, and Burial Rites
Once the 40-day drying period was complete, the body was removed from the natron, beginning the final 25 to 30 days of the mummification cycle. The desiccated body was cleaned of the salt, and the temporary stuffing was removed from the body cavity. To restore a lifelike shape, the torso and limbs were repacked with permanent materials such as resin-soaked linen or sawdust.
The body was then anointed with fragrant oils and resins, including cedar oil, myrrh, and frankincense, which helped soften the skin and provide preservation. The wrapping process was highly detailed and time-consuming, sometimes taking a week or two. Hundreds of yards of fine linen bandages were meticulously wound around the body in many layers, starting with the individual fingers and toes.
As the layers of linen were applied, priests placed protective amulets between the wrappings, intended to guard the deceased on their journey through the underworld. The final act, performed after the mummy was placed in its coffin, was the “Opening of the Mouth” ceremony. This ritual symbolically restored the deceased’s senses so they could speak, see, and eat in the afterlife. The completion of this final rite, precisely 70 days after preparation began, marked the body’s readiness for burial.