Ancient Egypt MUMMIFICATION by Maga and Mora
4th “A” 2014
The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies quickly, creating lifelike and natural 'mummies'.
After about 1000 B.C., the internal organs were often put back into the body after being dried. When this happened, the ancient Egyptians placed solid or empty canopic jars in the person's tomb.
During the mummification process, the internal organs were removed from the body. Before about 1000 B.C., the organs were dried and placed in hollow 'canopic jars'.
The lids of canopic jars represented gods called the 'four sons of Horus'. These gods protected the internal organs. Duamutef was the jackal-headed god who protected the stomach.
• Over many centuries, the ancient Egyptians developed a method of preserving bodies so they would remain lifelike. The process included embalming the bodies and wrapping them in strips of linen. Today we call this process mummification.