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Introduction
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| What are mummies? |
| Why did the Egyptians preserve their dead? |
| Who were usually preserved? |
Mummies are the dead who were preserved by means of mummification. Mummification dates back to around 2600 B.C. The Egyptians were not the only ones who practised mummification. The Chinese and the Westerners have also been known to mummify their dead, although their mummies were not as well preserved as those of the Egyptians. The Egyptians practised mummification extensivly, thus perfecting their ancient art. Egypt is hence recognised as the Land of Mummies. But, humans were not the only ones who were mummified. Animals such as frogs and falcons were also embalmed.
Why Did The Egyptians Mummify Their Dead?
The ancient Egyptians preserved their dead as they believed that for the body to pass over to the otherside, it had to be reunited with the spiritual being of its internal elements.
Who Were Usually Preserved?
For the ancient Egyptians, pharaohs were usually the ones being preserved. As the pharaohs had an abundant source of money, their funeral chambers, mummification tombs, and final resting places were elaborately decorated with their many belongings to be brought over to the otherside. Other than the pharaohs, the priests, nobles, and the richer common people together with sacrificial animals were also preserved, although on a smaller scale than the pharaohs.