Egyptian burial rituals and protocol

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Religion pervaded all aspects of Ancient Egyptian culture but the Ancient Egyptian burial rituals show some of the most obvious signs of this. After death, the body would be mummified in order for the deceased to achieve immortality. The Egyptian belief system held that without an intact body, the soul would have no vessel in the afterlife. Other rituals included the "opening of the mouth" ceremony where a priest would touch the mummy or sarcophagus with a hooked stick, symbolically opening the mouth of the mummy so that it could breathe and speak in the next life. Depending on social status, bodies were buried naked with their earthly riches, mummified pets, and sometimes even their mummified slaves, wives and children, as the Egyptians believed those were necessary to guide and serve the deceased in the afterlife and make it more comfortable. This had the consequnce of making Egyptian tombs major targets for grave robbers.

Contents 1 Reasons for mummification 1.1 Shadow and Body 1.2 Name 1.3 Ka (double/spirit/soul) 1.4 Ba (personality) 1.5 Akh (immortality) 1.6 The Indestructibles 1.7 Mummification 2 Different classes 3 Sources

[edit] Reasons for mummification

Ancient Egyptians devoted their entire lives to the afterlife. Depending on their degree of success in the trials in the afterlife, one either existed among the indestructibles (gaining immortality) or ceased to exist. The Egyptians believed that there were six important aspects that made up a human being. The lack of any one of these would prevent passage to the afterlife. The six aspects are:

• The Physical Body
• The Shadow
• Name
• Ka (spirit)
• Ba (personality)
• The Akh (immortality)

Each one of these elements played an important role in the well-being of an individual. Each was necessary to achieve rebirth into the afterlife. As such, a mummified body needed to last forever.

With the exception of the Akh (immortality), all these elements join a person at birth.

[edit] Shadow and Body

A person's shadow was always present. A person could not exist without a shadow, nor the shadow without the person. The shadow was represented as a small human figure painted complet

[edit] Name

A person's name was given to them at birth and would live with them for as long as they sxisted, even after death. A person may or may not like their name. A cartouche (magical rope) was used to surround the name and protect it for eternity. There is much evidence to support the idea that the name was an important part of a person's existence. The Egyptians believed that knowing or writing a person's name could give them power over that person. Many curses have been found which begin "I know the name of your mother, I know the name of your father..." or "I know you and I know your name."

[edit] Ka (double/spirit/soul)

The Ka was a person's double/spirit or soul. The Ka was created at the same time as the physical body. The doubles were made on a potter's wheel by the ram-headed god, Khnum. The Ka existed in the physical world and resided in the tomb. It had the same needs that the person had in life, which was to eat, drink, etc. The Egyptians left offerings of food, drink, and things that would be needed in the afterlife in tombs for the Ka to use.

[edit] Ba (personality)

The Ba, which had the ability to take on different forms, can best be described as someone's personality. Like a person's body, each Ba was an individual. It entered a person's body with the breath of life and it left at the time of death and moved freely between the underworld and the physical world.

[edit] Akh (immortality)

The Akh was the aspect of a person that would join the gods in the underworld being immortal and unchangeable. It was created after death by the use of funerary text and spells, designed to bring forth an akh. Once this was achieved that individual was assured of not "dying a second time"; a death that would mean the end of one's existence.

An intact body was an integral part of a person's afterlife. Without a physical body there was no shadow, no name, no ka, ba, or akh. By mummification, the Egyptians believed they were assuring themselves a successful rebirth into the afterlife.

[edit] The Indestructibles

See also main article, The Indestructibles.

In order to understand the concept of indestructibles, you need to understand a few basics of astronomy first; the region Egyptians believed where the indestructibles resided is referred today as the Ursa Minor constellation which also happens to mark Earth's Celestial pole. Also Polaris is a member of this constellation marking north.

Since Egyptians dreamed of being 'indestructible' they could only by traveling to the indestructible region of the sky. This was also the main function of the Egyptian pyramids. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is probably best among the Pyramid structures aligned to a compass' cardinal points, even by today's standards. However, Egyptians did not have a compass so instead they used Ursa Minor to locate North. Also, the Great Pyramid for example, has a hidden trap door along with canals that point towards the Indestructibles.

Because one of the main purposes of one's life was to reach the afterlife, the most popular job was grave building. Modern Egypt's deserts are littered with graves, from the majestic Great Pyramid, to infamous tunnel networks of connected tombs. For much of the length of Ancient Egyptian civilization grave builders were the equivalent of today's middle class. They lived a comfortable life and were not slaves; they were volunteers but were not paid directly. Instead all of their needs from basic sustenance to luxuries were met. For helping the Pharaoh reach the indestructibles, Egyptians believed they also deserved a seat among the indestructibles themselves.

[edit] Mummification

See also main article, Mummy.

First, the body would be laid on a flat board. The body would then be opened by a priest wearing a jackal mask to represent Anubis, the God of the Dead. The lungs, liver and other organs were removed and put into canopic jars. The heart was left intact because this is where the Egyptians believed the essence of a person resided. The brain would be taken out through the nose by inserting a hooked rod through the nose and then stirring the brain until it turned into mush. Then it was simply pulled out through the nose using the hook and was not preserved for continued use, as the Egyptians did not know the importance of it. The brain could also be pulverized and combined with liquids and then poured out. The body cavity and the separate parts were washed with wine, a natural disinfectant. Mummies were preserved with the special natron salt - it is important during the mummification process to remove all liquids from the body cavity, and so the torso was packed with salts and other substances. Then, the mummy was wrapped in yards of cloth, adhered to the body by tar and/or resin. Jewels and charms were put in the folds to keep evil spirits away and guide the soul through the afterlife, although this again attracted grave robbers. It took about 70 days to make a mummy. Then, after the process was finished, the funeral was held.

[edit] Different classes

1. Pharaoh
2. Vizier
3. High Priests, Nobles
4. Priests, Engineers, Doctors
5. Scribers
6. Craftsman
7. Soldiers, Farmers, Tomb Builders
8. Slaves

The Pharaoh:

In Ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was the highest political and religious authority. The Pharaoh represented the god Horus, being descended from either Osiris or Ra. Long before the Pharaoh died, he ordered the construction of his final resting place. The Pyramids of Egypt are the final resting place of several of the most notable and famous Pharaohs. How such colossal structures were built using the technology available at the time is not fully understood and, while usually accounted for in the huge numbers of slaves the Pharoah could command, is sometimes attributed to alien or other ethnic forces.

[edit] Sources

• www.cartage.org.lb
• http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/7037/religion/religion.htm