How to mummify a pharaoh: a step-by-step guide

The process of mummification was typically carried out in special workshops near the tombs or in the temples.

The embalmers would begin by washing the body with water from the Nile River.

This river was considered sacred by the Egyptians, so the washing process may have had a religious element to it.

Also, in a more practical sense, the washing of the body with water was done to remove any dirt or impurities from the body.

The first step in mummification was to remove the internal organs from the body. This was done through a small incision in the left side of the abdomen.

The organs were then placed in canopic jars, which were decorated with the heads of the four sons of Horus, who were believed to protect the organs.

The lungs were placed in the jar with the head of the jackal-headed god, Duamutef; the stomach in the jar with the head of the human-headed god, Imsety; the intestines in the jar with the head of the baboon-headed god, Hapy; and the liver in the jar with the head of the falcon-headed god, Qebehsenuef.

During the process of mummification in ancient Egypt, the embalmers removed the brain from the deceased's skull. 

The brain was considered to be of little importance in the afterlife, and it was discarded.

To remove it without damaging the body, the embalmers made a small incision at the base of the skull, near the back of the head. 

They then used a long, hook-like tool made of bronze or iron to break through the bone and reach the brain.

The tool was then used to break up the brain and pull it out through the nose.

It is worth noting that the removal of the brain was not always successful, and sometimes parts of the brain were left behind.

This was not considered a major issue, as the ancient Egyptians believed that the heart was the most important organ, and it was the only one that was left in the body during mummification.

After the removal of the internal organs, the body cavity would be filled with a variety of substances, such as linen, sawdust, or resin-soaked bandages.

This step helped to restore the natural shape of the body, which would have been distorted during the removal of the internal organs.

Also, the substances used for stuffing helped to dry out any remaining moisture in the body, preventing decay and preserving the mummy.

The body was then dehydrated using natron, a naturally occurring salt that was found in abundance in Egypt.

The body was covered in natron for a period of 40 days, during which time the salt absorbed all of the moisture from the body.

This process prevented the body from decomposing and helped to preserve it for the afterlife.

Once the body was dehydrated, it was time for embalming. This involved the application of various oils, resins, and balms to the body to help preserve it.

The embalmers would massage the body with these substances and then wrap it in linen bandages.

They would also place amulets, such as the ankh, the symbol of life, and the ushabti, small figurines that were believed to serve the pharaoh in the afterlife, within the layers of bandages.

The final step in the mummification process was the Opening of the Mouth ceremony.

This ritual was performed to ensure that the pharaoh's spirit could use its senses in the afterlife.

During the ceremony, the embalmers would use a special tool to touch the mouth and eyes of the mummy, symbolically opening them.

The pharaoh's soul was believed to be able to use its senses once this was done.

After the mummification process was complete, the pharaoh was ready for his journey into the afterlife.

The body was placed in a sarcophagus and buried in a tomb. The tomb was filled with all of the pharaoh's belongings, including food, clothing, and the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells and incantations that would guide the pharaoh's spirit through the afterlife.

The pharaoh's tomb was also adorned with decorations and statues of gods, including Anubis, the god of mummification, and Osiris, the god of the afterlife.

The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife and believed that the mummification process was necessary to ensure that the soul could travel to the afterlife and have a comfortable existence there.

The ancient Egyptians believed in the afterlife and that the preservation of the body was necessary to ensure the soul's survival in the afterlife.

They believed that the soul needed the body to recognize it in the afterlife, and so the body had to be preserved. 

The process of mummification was expensive and time-consuming, and it was usually reserved for the wealthy and elite members of society.

The mummified body was placed in a tomb along with valuable objects, such as jewelry, food, and furniture, to provide for the deceased in the afterlife.

The mummification process was a complex and time-consuming procedure that required specialized knowledge and skills.

The actual process of mummification was typically carried out by a group of skilled individuals known as embalmers.

The embalmers were highly respected members of society and had to undergo years of training to master the techniques of mummification.

They were usually priests who worked in the temples and were responsible for the care of the deceased.

They had to follow strict religious and ritual practices during the mummification process to ensure that the soul of the deceased would be able to journey through the afterlife successfully.