Mummification

- mummification of bodies could have been natural or deliberate

- many mummies were made by drying the body since eliminating moisture means to eliminate decay as well

- natron was used to remove the liquid from the dead body

- there were six things that were believed to be essential if one wishes to go to the after life

- a person's name was given to them at birth and as long as they were to live on the earth, there name was spoken

- Ka was a person's double which had the same responsibilities as a human

- Ba entered the human body during the first breath and left at death; Ba could change forms

- Akh was created after death by spells; it was a confirmation that the person would not die a second time

- an intact body after death was integral to mummification and a trip to the after life

- mummification process:

- body was washed with natron and water

- organs were removed, starting with the brain

- abdomen was sliced open

- all organs were now removed except the heart

- different oils and herbs were used to clean and wash the incisions

- each organ was then dried with natron and placed in its corresponding canopic jar

- each jar had the god that protected the organ

- natron bags were placed in body

- body was wrapped with fine linen and would then await the burial rituals