Coffins and Wrappings

    The next step was to wrap the body. The process of wrapping the body took two weeks. The bandages used to wrap the body were made of linen. If one were to measure the length of the bandages, they would be as long as the distance from the top of the Empire State Building to the sidewalk down below. How long is that? The wrappings were covered in scented perfumes. As the body was being wrapped, the people would put magical stones in between the bandages. The stones were thought to help the dead person get to eternity. Each finger and toe was wrapped separately. They put many jewelry pieces on the mummy. Good-luck charms were put between the mummy's toes. They put a mask on the body, and put into a coffin. 

        At first, they laid the mummies in the sand, but after awhile, they started putting them in coffins. The coffins were made out of wood or stone (most were made out of wood). Many mummies had more than one coffin. Coffins were placed inside one another. On the outside of the coffin, they put pictures, or graphics, that would represent them. The things they used daily were sometimes put into the coffins along with the body. The coffins were rectangular shaped, or sometimes the shape of their body. Wealthy or royal people would have a better coffin than the weak and poor.  After they were mummified, there was a beautiful, planned ceremony. At the ceremony, the royal family stood in front of the crowd. They cried and moaned when they were burying the mummy. The incense burners gave off lovely fragrances. The people had prepared how they were going to transform the mummy into a god. After they were done, they closed the tomb forever.