The ancient Egyptian practice of mummification was driven by the religious conviction that a preserved body was a prerequisite for eternal life. Egyptians believed that two aspects of the soul, the Ka (life force) and the Ba (roaming spirit), required a physical anchor to survive the transition to the afterlife. Physical preservation was a necessity to ensure the reunion of these spiritual entities. The treatment of the internal organs involved specialized procedures designed to prevent decay and safeguard the body for this spiritual journey.
Evisceration and Organ Selection
The first step in mummification involved removing the internal organs that would rapidly decompose and compromise the body. This evisceration was typically performed through a small incision on the left flank, allowing access to the chest and abdominal cavities. The four major viscera targeted for extraction were the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines, as they were most susceptible to putrefaction.
The removal of these moist organs halted the decay accelerated by moisture and bacteria in the hot Egyptian climate. Once extracted, the organs were cleaned and set aside for their own preservation process. The body cavity was then rinsed with palm wine, which acted as an antiseptic, and infused with spices and aromatic resins before the desiccation stage began.
Preservation and Drying Techniques
The removed organs—the lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines—were preserved individually using specialized techniques. The primary method involved natron, a naturally occurring salt mixture that acted as a powerful desiccant. The organs were thoroughly dried by packing them in or covering them with this natron salt.
This dehydration phase ran concurrently with the body’s own 40-day natron treatment, drawing out moisture and preventing bacterial growth. After drying, each organ was cleaned of natron residue and anointed with fine oils and resins. The preserved organs were then wrapped tightly in linen bandages, often with protective amulets, preparing them for their final resting place.
The Role and Fate of the Canopic Jars
Following preservation, the four major organs were placed into a set of four distinct containers known as Canopic jars. These jars held deep religious significance, as each was placed under the protection of one of the four Sons of Horus. The lids of the jars were often sculpted into the heads of these deities.
Each Son of Horus guarded a specific organ for the deceased’s rebirth:
- Imsety (human-headed) protected the liver.
- Hapy (baboon-headed) watched over the lungs.
- Duamutef (jackal-headed) secured the stomach.
- Qebehsenuef (falcon-headed) shielded the intestines.
This system ensured the organs were kept safe until the deceased could be resurrected. In later periods, the practice sometimes shifted, and the preserved organs were wrapped and returned directly to the body cavity. Even when the viscera were placed back into the mummy, the four Canopic jars were still included in the tomb, serving as symbolic representations of divine protection.
The Exceptions: Heart and Brain
Two internal organs were treated differently from the major viscera, reflecting the ancient Egyptians’ understanding of human physiology and the soul. The heart was almost universally left inside the mummy because it was considered the seat of intelligence, emotion, memory, and the soul itself. This organ was necessary for the final judgment in the afterlife, known as the Weighing of the Heart, where it would be balanced against the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and justice.
In contrast, the brain was routinely removed and discarded, as the Egyptians did not recognize its function. The brain was extracted in a process called excerebration by inserting a long, hooked bronze rod through the nasal cavity. The rod was used to break up the tissue, liquefy it, and allow the resulting fluid to drain out through the nose. This destructive method reflected the belief that the brain held no value for the deceased’s existence in the next world.