The Death Industry of Ancient Egypt: Mummies, Tombs, and Afterlife Beliefs

Death was a significant preoccupation in ancient Egyptian culture. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife, where the soul continued to live after the death of the physical body. This belief led to the development of an elaborate death industry, which included the creation of mummies, the construction of tombs, and the performance of funerary rituals.

Mummies

The most iconic product of the ancient Egyptian death industry is the mummy. Mummies were created by a process of embalming, which involved removing the internal organs, treating the body with chemicals, and wrapping it in linen bandages. The process of embalming could take up to 70 days, and it was believed to preserve the body for eternity.

Death Industry of Ancient Egypt: Everything You Need to Know About the Horrifying and Intriguing Ancient Civilization (History Revealed Book 2)

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The earliest known mummies date back to the Predynastic Period (c. 6000-3100 BC). However, the practice of mummification became most widespread during the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1070 BC). During this period, mummies were often decorated with painted masks and elaborate jewelry.

Tombs

Tombs were another important part of the ancient Egyptian death industry. Tombs were built to house the bodies of the dead and to protect them from robbers. The earliest tombs were simple pits dug in the ground. However, over time, tombs became more elaborate, and some were even built as pyramids.

The most famous pyramids are the pyramids of Giza, which were built during the Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2181 BC). The largest of these pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Giza, was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu. It is one of the largest and most impressive structures ever built.

Afterlife Beliefs

The ancient Egyptians believed in a complex afterlife, which consisted of a number of different realms. The most important of these realms was the Field of Reeds, which was a paradise where the souls of the righteous went after death.

In order to reach the Field of Reeds, the soul had to pass through a series of trials and tribulations. These trials were designed to test the soul's purity and worthiness. The soul had to be judged by the god Osiris, who weighed the soul's heart against a feather. If the soul's heart was lighter than the feather, the soul was allowed to enter the Field of Reeds. If the soul's heart was heavier than the feather, the soul was condemned to eternal punishment.

Funerary Practices

The ancient Egyptians performed a number of funerary rituals in order to help the soul on its journey to the afterlife. These rituals included:

* The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony: This ceremony was performed to allow the soul to speak and eat in the afterlife. * The Weighing of the Heart Ceremony: This ceremony was performed to determine whether the soul was worthy of entering the Field of Reeds. * The Mummification Process: The process of embalming was believed to preserve the body for eternity and allow the soul to return to it in the afterlife. * The Burial: The burial was the final stage of the funerary process. The body was placed in a coffin and buried in a tomb.

The Death Industry Today

The death industry of ancient Egypt is still alive and well today. Many of the same practices that were performed in ancient times are still performed today. However, there have been some changes in the way that we view death and the afterlife.

Today, we no longer believe that it is necessary to mummify the body in order to preserve it for eternity. We also no longer believe that the soul has to pass through a series of trials and tribulations in order to reach the afterlife. However, we still believe that the death of a loved one is a significant event that should be marked with rituals and ceremonies.

The death industry of ancient Egypt is a fascinating and complex subject that offers insights into the beliefs and values of an ancient civilization. The practices that were developed by the ancient Egyptians to deal with death are still relevant today, and they continue to influence the way that we think about death and the afterlife.

Death Industry of Ancient Egypt: Everything You Need to Know About the Horrifying and Intriguing Ancient Civilization (History Revealed Book 2)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1324 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	12 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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