|
The emptied body was then covered in natron, to speed
up the process of dehydration and prevent decomposition.
Natron dries the body up faster than desert sand,
preserving the body better. Often finger and toe
protectors were placed over the mummies fingers and toes
to prevent breakage.

They were wrapped with strips of
white linen that protected the body from being damaged.
After that, they were wrapped in a sheet of canvas to
further protect them. Many sacred charms and amulets
were placed in and around the mummy and the wrappings.
This was meant to protect the mummy from harm and to
give good luck to the Ka of the mummy. Once preserved,
the mummies were laid to rest in a sarcophagus inside a
tomb, where it was believed that the mummy would rest
eternally. In some cases the mummy's mouth would later
be opened in a ritual designed to symbolize breathing,
giving rise to legends about revivified mummies.
Mummy - Egyptian mummies as a commodity
|