The ancient Egyptians initiated the mummification process by removing moisture from the body using salts.

Reserved for the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in Egyptian society, mummification was believed to secure a favorable afterlife. The rich, eager to undergo mummification, paid for their bodies to be preserved for the journey beyond.

The mummification process involved three key individuals: the scribe, the cutter, and the embalmer. The scribe supervised the cutting of the body, the cutter performed the actual incisions, and the embalmer, often a priest, removed internal organs and prepared the body.

Notably, the Egyptians washed the body with water from the Nile River and used natural drying agents like natron during the 40-day drying period.

The earliest mummies faced challenges in decay under their bandages, prompting experimentation by embalmers. The ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife, motivating them to perfect the mummification process. They thought that the heart, not the brain, played a crucial role in a person’s existence. Internal organs, once removed, were placed in canopic jars, each adorned with the head of the falcon god Horus.

Before extracting internal organs, the embalmers washed the body with water and natron, symbolizing purification. Hair removal and brain extraction followed, with the brain discarded as it was considered insignificant. The liver, stomach, intestines, and lungs were removed and preserved in canopic jars.

After these procedures, the body was dried with sand, rags, or dry grass, and a chemical called natron played a key role in the drying process. The body was then buried, and after 40 days, the mummy was ready for further preparations.

The embalmers filled the body with sawdust, salt, or ashes, ensuring firmness. Eyes were either filled with linen or fake eyeballs, and the body was wrapped in multiple layers of linen. Sometimes, the head was sealed with wax or metal. The body cavity was washed with water from the Nile, and natural drying agents were used.

Upon completion, the mummy was painted with oils, spices, and perfumes to maintain its freshness. Nails were attached, and glass eyes replaced the deceased’s original eyes. The body was wrapped in bandages adorned with jewels and charms for protection in the afterlife.

Sometimes, a face was painted over the bandages, providing a lifelike appearance. This meticulous process, undertaken by skilled embalmers, aimed to preserve the deceased’s body and ensure a prosperous journey to the afterlife.

The ‘screaming’ mummy and the royal secrets of Ramses III’s final resting place offer intriguing insights into ancient Egyptian funerary practices and beliefs in the continuation of life beyond death.