Egyptian Mummies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Egyptian Mummies - Essay Example The demand for this product led to the need to for an alternative. This led to the use of the Egyptian mummies, which also had a black appearance. This appearance created a belief that they had â€Å"similar properties to munia.†2 This led to the use of these Egyptians historical materials during the mediaeval and the following times as a medicine ingredient. Since, mummy has been used to refer to these bodies. Even though the mummies were initially used for medicinal purposes, the Egyptian used them because they had a belief that one lives after death. Mummies were the results of the mummification process. This is a process by which Egyptians preserved their bodies in preparation for afterlife. The process began by the priest removing the brain through a process of embalming through the nose. This was by the use of a hook. The brain was seen as insignificant and, therefore, it was disposed. Next, an incision was developed inside a corpse to remove other internal organs. Significant organs were cleaned and treated with the use of palm water, myrrh and frankincense. These organs include the liver, intestines, stomach and lungs. It is the heart in which they believed that spirit that they referred to as â€Å"ka† lived. This made them to leave thus organ in the body. These significant organs and the body were loaded in Natron to draw moisture and prevent bacteria. The drying process was made possible by the hot climate. The natron was removed at the end of 40 days and the body covered with ointments to prevent the smell. The c avity was filled with linen to maintain its shape and then covered with strips of linen. This then resulted into a mummy. Mummifying the body was significant in ensuring that a person’s wandering spirit, which was referred to as â€Å"Ba†, would determine its respective body when it returns. To them Ba could be referred to as a person’s personality. Conversely,