Mummies and Death in Egypt - Essay Example

Egyptian Mummies The term mummy is used today to refer to the natural or artificial way in which a body is persevered. Traditionally, this term has been used to refer to the preserved bodies by the ancient Egyptians. These Egyptians were used to dehydrating the boy tissues in order to avoid putrefaction. It is a word derived from the Arabic or Persian “word mumia (or mumiya, which means “pitch” or bitumen.”1Originally, this term was used to refer to a black substance that appeared like asphalt. It was believed to have medicinal features used in curing different ailments that originated from the “Mummy Mountains,” which are based in Persia. The demand for this product led to the need to for an alternative. This led to the use of the Egyptian mummies, which also had a black appearance. This appearance created a belief that they had “similar properties to munia.”2 This led to the use of these Egyptians historical materials during the mediaeval and the following times as a medicine ingredient. Since, mummy has been used to refer to these bodies. Even though the mummies were initially used for medicinal purposes, the Egyptian used them because they had a belief that one lives after death. Mummies were the results of the mummification process. This is a process by which Egyptians preserved their bodies in preparation for afterlife. The process began by the priest removing the brain through a process of embalming through the nose. This was by the use of a hook. The brain was seen as insignificant and, therefore, it was disposed. Next, an incision was developed inside a corpse to remove other internal organs. Significant organs were cleaned and treated with the use of palm water, myrrh and frankincense. These organs include the liver, intestines, stomach and lungs. It is the heart in which they believed that spirit that they referred to as “ka” lived. This made them to leave thus organ in the body. These significant organs and the body were loaded in Natron to draw moisture and prevent bacteria. The drying process was made possible by the hot climate. The natron was removed at the end of 40 days and the body covered with ointments to prevent the smell. The cavity was filled with linen to maintain its shape and then covered with strips of linen. This then resulted into a mummy. Mummifying the body was significant in ensuring that a person’s wandering spirit, which was referred to as “Ba”, would determine its respective body when it returns. To them Ba could be referred to as a person’s personality. Conversely, Ka was a spirit that lived in a person’s heart. For bar to also recognize the body, a person’s tomb was also decorated with his or her pictures and the name to help Bar recognize it without forgetting who the person was or getting lost. The reason, Ba went a way is because he left for judgment. For the Egyptian, Ba went in underworld to be judged by “Osiris”. To them this was the god of resurrection. He was killed by Set, his brother. The later was known to be the “God of Evil.”3 Set killed Osiris by chopping him into pieces and hiding them in different parts in Egypt. The Goddess of Love, Isis – the wife to Osiris, tried to recollect the pieces but did not find the heart. This led to him remaining the underworld judge because he did not fully resurrect. Osiris judged a person’s heart by the use of a magical weight that was referred to as the “Feather of Truth.” 4 A person whose heart was found to be good was given an opportunity to proceed to the afterlife. For a person whose heart was bad or heavy, his or her Ba was eliminated through destruction so that he did not proceed to the afterlife. Therefore, it was a good Ba that was allowed to return to its body, which was initially mummified. The above explanations indicate that the Egyptians were regarding the body as a place where the soul was to live forever. In particular, they were convinced that the body was the only place in which the soul could find accommodation after one has died. For them the spirit would be misplaced if a person’s body was lost. This was strengthened by their religion practices and doctrines. The religion taught that the body comprises three types of sprits which include the Ba, Ka, and Akh. The ka was believed to remain in the tomb. This implies why they buried the body with different items like drinks, games and foods. These items were to be used by the Ka spirit. Second, the Baw was considered a free spirit that would not be confined in the tomb. Mummies also made the other funeral processes that prepared one for the afterlife successful. During a funeral, the priests performed significant rites that prepared the dead for the afterlife. These rites were mostly performed at the tomb entrance. In the burial ceremony, the priest touched some parts of the mummy as a way of ensuring that the body was opened for different senses. For instance, touching the mouth symbolized that the dead had now the ability to eat and also speak. This also made him ready for the afterlife journey. After the mummy was placed in the tomb it was sealed. This practice on the mummy is a clear indication that the Egyptians were obsessed with the later life. Their view on life was witnessed in the early planning for death. For them, there was no life that would be better than the present and, therefore, mummification assured them of the later life. The extending of mummification to some animals also symbolized that the Egyptians had a strong belief in afterlife. The process of using mummies was common among the pharaohs, noble officials, and in some occasions common people were mummified. For the common people, the process was not highly used because it was expensive. The significance of religious practices led to some valued animals being mummified. Animals like the sacred bulls were mummified. Interestingly, a cemetery was established at Sakkara for these bulls. Considering that they were sacred, Egyptians believed that such animals would proceed to afterlife. There was also the mummification of other animals like baboons, crocodiles and cats. Also, some birds were mummified. The mummification of animals was higher in later dynasties. Precisely, mummies were used on people and animals to prepare them for afterlife. This was strengthened by religious reasons. Attributing mummies to afterlife also made them significant for Egyptians. When one would find a mummy, it could be used for strange things. This is because some Egyptian believed that the mummy has some power. In particular, they believed that it had power to help one heal wounds. In this regard, they began to use it as medicine. It was grinded and boiled, or used in making ointments. However, on drinking it was vomited because it was considered as poison. Vomiting indicated that one was improving from his or her ailments. With such observations, it was believed that mummies were a symbol of the power of afterlife. The way it was used indicated that the afterlife was more powerful and thus it was vital to prepare one for it. Mummies also provided an opportunity to provide the dead with instructions to be used in the afterlife. The Egyptians had some literature that believed would help one navigate in the later life. The literature consisted of instructions and spells to be used. For instance, the pharaoh was given literatures, which some scholars refer to as “Pyramid texts.”5 This literature had spells that would assure the royal one protection after resurrection. For example, the texts were first used by Pharaoh Unas. The writings were vital in indicating how one should live the later life. This action also compares with the mummy itself. The same way the body is preserved was an assurance to the dead that there is a better life. He or she was to use the writings in navigating his body that is already preserved in the afterlife. Therefore, the use of literature to help one in the later life would have proved insignificant if the physical body was not also prepared. The Egyptian also used mummies because they had a belief that the dead would still have some significant roles in normal life. They had a belief that the dead had the ability to be angry or hold grudge like the living. These emotions would then be used to hurt the living, in particular the family members or any other person connected to the dead. With mummification, it was one way to win the respect of the dead and avoid revenge. Also, families had a belief that the dead had the ability to support them. The Ba spirit had the ability to release a twin from the body who would be responsible in supporting a family. This twin was recognized by Ka. This idea on the dead made the Egyptians to treat the dead respectfully. This also made the poor to give their dead an expensive burial. They would bury the dead in the desert with some objects to make him or her comfortable. Although the mummification process was expensive, the poor Egyptians still recognized the afterlife. They used to bury their members with some objects for later life. Ultimately, the Egyptians used mummies because they had a belief that one lives after death. The process of mummification was vital in preparing the body as the house for the soul. It enabled the spirit of later life to recognize the body after judgment from underworld. Also, mummies provided an opportunity to prepare the dead for the later life by providing other objects that can be utilized. Next, mummies were also used on animals and birds that were believed to have an afterlife. Last, the Egyptians respect for the dead also compelled them to use mummies. Therefore, the use of mummies was due to the belief in later life. Notes 1. Jamie Wise. “Mummification,” WHS, n.d., http://www.loeser.us/examples/mummy.html. (29 April 2014). 2. Wise, Mummification, n.p. 3. Francoise Dunand and Roger Lichtenberg, Mummies and Death in Egypt (London: Cornell University Press, 2006). 7. 4. Erik Hornung, The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Afterlife (Cornel: Cornell University Press, 1999). 7. 5. Dunand and Lichtenberg, Mummies and Death in Egypt, 25. Bibliography Dunand, Francoise and Lichtenberg, Roger. Mummies and Death in Egypt. London: Cornell Unversity Press, 2006. Hornung, Erik. The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Afterlife. Cornel: Cornell University Press, 1999. Wise, Jamie. “Mummification,” WHS, n.d., http://www.loeser.us/examples/mummy.html. (29 April 2014). Read More

 

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