The Tomb
The ancient Egyptian tomb was supplied with items the deceased would need in the afterlife: food, household goods, and the body itself. The body of the deceased was an important part of the tomb contents. The mummy was taken to the tomb, along with the vital organs that had also been removed and preserved. The organs were kept in canopic jars stored in a large canopic chest. There were four canopic jars. Another important addition to the tomb supplies were the containers holding the materials used in the embalming process. These were included in case even the smallest part of the body had ended up inside them. To fit in everything a wealthy or royal person would need in the afterlife, the tombs of these individuals were often large and complex structures. They normally consisted of two main parts: the superstructure above ground and the burial chamber underground.
Tomb Decoration
The Egyptian mummy cases were painted in bright and joyful colors. This is because that the Egyptians were confident that the dead person had left for a better world. Skilled artists painted the surfaces with beautiful hieroglyphs and religious images. Scenes from the book of the dead were common. Other scenes show the sun god Re, whom the dead person was thought to join in heaven, or the scarab beetle, a symbol of rebirth. The various gods associated with Osiris along with the Sons of Horus were also painted on many coffins. Another popular figure was the sky goddess, Nut, who is often seen on the lid or floor of the coffin, with her feathery wings wrapped around the mummy in protection. (69)
Egyptian Shabtis
Even in the afterlife the deceased had work to do. To avoid these chores, shabtis, small, model servants, were placed in the tombs. The earliest shabtis come from the Middle Kingdom. These figures were made of wood or wax, and often placed in model wooden coffins.(Budge 11)
Boxes filled with mud Shabtis.
Amulets
Ancient Egyptians wore charms called Amulets after they died. They believed that these charms had magical properties to protect the body from evil and bring good luck. Many different kinds of amulets, often representing plants, animals, or parts of the body, were placed inside a mummy’s wrapping. Several hundred amulets have been found inside a single mummy. They were positioned on the body according to the book of the dead and many were inscribed with excerpts from these sacred writings. The particular stone or material used for the amulet gave it special power. A variety of amulets were placed within a mummy's wrappings. These charms served two purposes: protection from danger and the renewal of strength. Examples of amulets include the model headrest (to make sure the head stayed with the body), the snake's head (to protect from snakebite), and the symbol of a papyrus scepter (to assure the strength of the limbs).
This is the 'Isis knot' amulet which will protect the body
This is the 'Plummet' amulet, which will keep the person balanced in the next life.
The ancient Egyptians used headrests in this shape in their daily lives. This amulet made sure that the person's head would be supported forever. This headrest amulet is only about two centimeters tall.(Budge 38-45)Here is a list of the most famous amulets used by the Egyptians:
SCARAB : The symbol of the God of creation. The scarab was frequently placed on the dead to effect their resurection. The scarab itself was based on a type of dung eating beetle.
DJED : Believed to give strength to the back.
tjet : Represents the sexual organs of the God Isis. Usually this amulet is found in the hands of statues.
URS : Headrests of pillows. Usually made of wood or ivory they were placed under the mummy's neck.
AB : Inscribed on the breast of the mummy to replace the heart.
NER-T : This amulet commemorates the wanderings of the Goddess Isis. Gives its wearer the strength of Isis.
USEKH : Tied to the mummy's head to protect the chest and neck.
UADJ : Gave the wearer the qualities of youth and virility.
UDJAT : Worn for good health protection and well being.
AHAT : Made in the form of a cow wearing the solar disk with plumes between the horns.
FROG : Fertility symbol usually made of gold.
NEFER : Represented a musical instrument and gave its wearer good luck.
BA : Made in the form of a man headed hawk it was usually made of gold and placed on the breast.
SMA : Believed to give the mummy power to breathe.
AAKHU : A symbol of life after death.
SHUTI : Represents the two feathers on the heads of Ra, Osiris and Amen-Ra.
SHEN : Symbol of eternity.
REN : Name amulet. In some cases the name of a king was inscribed.
MENAT : Amulet of virility, fertility and sexual power.
MAQ-T : The amulet provided the dead with the ability to ascend to heaven.
URAEUS : Represented the sacred cobra. A symbol of sovereignty worn on the head of the Kings and Queens of Egypt.(48)
Grave Goods
Grave goods included pots (the majority of the items), combs, stone vessels, and slate palettes on which malachite, the green eye cosmetic, was ground. Sometimes there were figurines and objects of copper, beads, and amulets.
An important factor in the development of the Egyptian tomb was the necessity to provide storage space for the items of funerary equipment.
Necklace
Bowl
Jar
Dice
Paette
Comb
Basket
Mummy Cases:
Mummy cases were New Kingdom boxes that fit between the mummy and the coffin. They were made in two styles: a box and lid like a coffin, or a box with doors in the back that laced closed. Mummy cases were made of cartonnage, a lightweight material made from waste papyrus and linen covered in plaster. The cartonnage material allowed the case to be molded closely to the outline of the mummy; it was also a wonderful material to paint on. Mummy cases were elaborately decorated with a variety of religious elements.
Coffins:
Depending on the period and the wealth of the individual, it was fashionable to be buried in either one, two, or three different coffins. Multiple coffins would be nested one inside the other.By the Middle Kingdom the coffin was considered a miniature tomb, and it was decorated with many of the items that had formerly adorned the walls of the tomb. The goddesses Isis and Nephthys were painted as guards at the head and foot of the coffin. The inside floor of the coffin was painted with Nut, Isis, Osiris, or the Djed pillar (Osiris's backbone). The sides bore the four sons of Horus and other deities. (50-54)
Sarcophagus.
A Sarcophagus is a coffin made of stone. Sarcophagus means “flesh eater” in Greek, for the Greeks believed that the stone would dissolve a dead body. Sarcophagus were expensive, and only pharaohs, noblemen, or important officials were buried in them. They were also incrediblyheavy and had to be positioned in the tombs by gangs of workers. During the funeral, the mummy was carried into the tomb and sealed in the sarcophagus. The first sarcophagi were plain rectangular boxes, but the later ones were rounded to look like the mummy inside them.(Erman 66)
