![]() ![]() Why did ancient Egyptians mummify their dead?Įgyptians had long observed that bodies interred in graves without direct contact with the drying sands tended to decompose and sought to prevent this for religious reasons. The earliest attempts to replicate this outcome by artificial means were less effective so Hekashepes represents an early example of successful preservation.įootage of the discoveries in the tomb of Hekashepes. The pre-dynastic mummies of the fourth millennium BC were so well preserved by the dry desert sands-without human intervention-that their tattoos are still visible. After this period, it was carefully wrapped in linen bandages and finally laid to rest inside a coffin.īy the time Herodotus wrote this, Egyptians had been practicing mummification for more than two millennia, gradually perfecting the technique through experimentation. The body was left to dry in a natron solution (a substance harvested from dry lake beds and used to absorb moisture) for up to 70 days. The cut was then stitched up and the body rinsed with wine and spices. The brain was removed through the nostrils with a hook, while the inner organs were removed through a cut in the abdomen. In the 5th century BC, the Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus described the elaborate way Egyptians preserved their dead. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |