A mummy is a person or animal that is preserved for their journey to the after life The Egyptians believed that you have to be mummified to begin the passage to the afterlife.  Mummies were made for the pharohs, nobles, priests, and very rich people. The whole process of mummifing took about 70 days total. The person who had the biggest tombs and the most elaborate burial was the Pharoh for he/she was the most important and were believed to become gods.  Then for the burials of the rich priests and nobles it wasn't as grand.  The whole process of drying out the body, bathing it, soaking it, wrapping it, and perfuming it was strenuous.  The longest part of the mummification was when the body was dried out with natron which took about 40 days.  What the natron did was dry and shrink the body.  Next the body was stuffed with packaging. Then the mummy was covered with gold jewels and amulets in between the layers and layers of linen.  Once the mummy was ready, it was time for the grand funeral.  Many many people were hired to grieve for the mummy by crying and throwing dirt in their hair.  Then many religious ceremonies were performed at the site of the tomb. A special opening of the mouth ceremony was supposed to let the mummy eat, drink, and hear in the after life.