Ancient Egyptians believed that to enter the afterlife, a person needed to have his or her body mummified after death. Everyone who could afford it was prepared for burial in this way.
The process was a long and expensive one - it took 70 days! First, the body was washed and the internal organs removed. They were wrapped in linen and placed in special containers called canopic jars. A substance called natron was used to dry the body for 40 days. The Natron was then removed and the body was decorated with gold, jewels, and amulets for protection. The next step was to wrap the body in narrow strips of linen - 20 layers in all. The head was covered with a mask.
The mummy was buried in a tomb. Mourners were hired to cry and throw dust in their hair. Furniture, household items, wall paintings, and food were placed in the tomb. It was thought that the dead person would need these things in the Afterlife.
Scientists are able to study mummies by using x-rays to determine the average height and life span of these people. Ancient Egyptian writings are also studied to learn about this interesting process.
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