Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery #3 / Ancient Egypt - Mummification and Afterlife /

Mummification was a custom of preserving bodies of deceased performed by ancient Egyptians. Before pharaohs, deceased where buried in the desert where sand, temperature and dehydration preserved the bodies. With development of architecture and tombs, came artificial ways of keeping bodies from decay. It was believed that the spirit can re-enter the body in the afterlife and destruction of a body (or mummy) meant destruction of a spirit (unless statue of deceased was provided for spirit to inhabit it). The whole process of mummification took up to 70 days. During that period the body was washed and internal organs removed, with exception of heart. Other vital organs were placed in separate containers called canopic jars. The brain was drawn through the nose, using metal rod for head to remain intact. After removal of organs and intestines body was dehydrated in mixture of crushed salt for 40 days, skin rubbed with oils, cavity packed with lichen or bandages to reduce shrinkage, then wrapped in bandages, that could use up to 375 square meters of linen. 

Funerary Mask, Late Period, 664- 332 BC, put on wrapped head of the mummy to help protecting head of the deceased. Also according to the belief, spirit could leave the body, to go back, the mask helped recognizing own body wrapped in bandaging. It was painted and glided plaster and linen. 

Coffin of Padimut, dated 1070 - 700 BC, of the priest of goddess Mut, what meant 'the one who Mut gave', the son of Ankhefen - Mut, and Nehemes- Bastet. Coffin was painted, as no images were decorated on the walls of tombs. Coffin shows scenes involving a winged god associated with Amun. Horus, shown as Falcon, god of the sky is also depicted. All pictures surrounded by symbols including all seeing eye, ankh cross and protection of life emblems. 

Coffin of an unknown mummy, dated 650 - 500 BC, plastered and painted over. Top surface decorated with face, wig and collar. Arms crossed over the body. A false door, Ka -  door drawn on the side, what allowed deceased to pass between living and nether worlds. Apparently coffin was never finished as name space is blank. X ray showed poorly preserved body of a woman, probably 25 years of age, with majority teeth lost before death. It is not known due to what reason as there are no indications of any illness. 

Late  Graeco - Roman Period Mummy, 332 bc - 395 AD, bandaged male mummy decorated with diagonal wrappings and glided terracotta studs. From 21st Dynasty onwards more emphasis was placed on elaborate bandaging than on preservation the body. The decoration of this mummy is unique to Graeco - Roman period and is the product of two cultures. X ray showed a body of 25 - 35 year old man, appearing to be in good health, with evidence of a wound to right side of neck, what may have caused death. There is an unidentified object embedded in skull.

 Animal Mummies (representation of the gods):

1. Falcon, 
2. Cat,
3. Ibis chick,
4. Snake, 
5. -  6. Ibis.

Ancient Egyptians buried their dead with all the items they would need in afterlife, including food, water and new home - the tomb. Also, as mentioned above, statues of the deceased were provided to carry the spirit in case of mummy destruction.  The afterlife consisted of two worlds, one in the sky, other within earth, ruled by Osiris, King of the Dead. Before entering tests awaited.The Gods were to weight the heart against feather of justice, symbol of goddess Maat. Sinful heart would outweigh the feather, when monster Ammit would devour it, with no chance for rebirth. To aid the way to afterlife, some tombs contained a spell in which deceased could deny committing any of 42 specific sins or scrolls guiding to underworld.

(left, 1) Wooden box containing Ushabti figures that belonged to 'scribe of divine offerings of Amun, Ptah - hetep", from period of Late New Kingdom, 1300 - 1000 BC. 

(right, 2) Ushabti figures from various periods, workers for the dead, creatures to perform all tasks for the dead as in paradise nobody would have to work.

(right, 3) Heart Scarabs, wrapped with the mummy, carrying inscription to prevent one's heart to act as hostile witness during final judgment, in use from 18th Dynasty, 1500 BC.

(left) Figure from Saqqara, 26th Dynasty, 600 BC, figure of Ptah-Seker-Osiris with characteristics of the gods of creation. Painted plaster on woodm face glided.

(right) Set of limestone canopic jars with painted heads of four sons o Horus. 18th Dynasty.

(left, 7) Front of official's tombs at Thebes were decorated with pottery cones stamped with the name and title. This one belonged to mayor and overseer of granaries Amenem - hat. Thebes, New Kingdom 1500 - 1000 BC.

(right, 8) A magical brick, one of set of four left  usually in all corners of burial chamber, New Kingdom 1500 - 1000 BC.

(left, 10) Pottery offering plate with drainage channels and modeled representations of trussed ox, fish and two loaves, painted red. Middle Kingdom, 2000 - 1800 BC.

(right) Mummy mask, made and painted over cartonnage, face glided, Late Period, 1000 - 600 BC.