The Mummification Process Video Quiz

To know more about the mummification process, you need to travel back to Ancient Egypt, to the fertile lands of River Nile. According to their religion and belief in the afterlife, bodies had to be preserved and mummified. Death was just a transition from one life to another. They believed that they had to preserve their bodies so they could lead a new life.

What is a mummy?

A mummy is a person whose soft tissue (things like skin or muscle) has been preserved. Egyptian mummies are intentional, meaning that people performed specific rituals on the remains of a person to preserve this soft tissue. The ancient Egyptians also mummified animals, including dogs, cats, and birds.

If you wonder if everybody was mummified in Ancient Egypt, the answer is no: mummification was an expensive process. Pharaohs were commonly mummified and buried in elaborate tombs. Non-royals were also mummified. However, their mummification wasn’t necessarily as thorough as royalty, depending on what their family could afford.

The mummification of a poor person could be as simple as washing out the intestines and covering the body with natron, then covering them with minimal wrappings and burying them in a shallow grave or cave.

So, what are the step in the Egyptian mummification process?

The first step was washing the body with water from the Nile River, which was sacred because it helped their crops grow.

Then, they removed the brain using a brain hook (they discarded the brain!)

In a third step, the priests would remove other internal organs. The heart was the most important since they believed it was the seat of one’s spirit and being. Each organ was put in one of four canopic jars to be protected by one of the Four Sons of Horus.

Later, after the priests removed the organs, they covered the body inside and out with natron. Natron is a naturally occurring salt from the Egyptian desert that absorbs moisture and fat. They had to replace the natron every couple weeks. This portion of the process lasted about 40 days.

Next, it was time to wrap the mummy. Wrapping the mummy was symbolic in many ways. The priests would then tuck amulets into the mummy’s wrappings. An amulet is an object that people believe will protect the person who carries it. The ancient Egyptians would also put a mask over the wrapped mummy’s face.

Finally, the mummy would be placed in a coffin, and in the case of the pharaoh, they would put the coffin inside a pyramid.

Now, watch this video and take the quiz to see how much you have learnt about the mummification process.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: You need to answer all the questions to be able to submit your answers, and you’ll get immediate feedback on your mistakes without having to provide any email!

Mummification Process Quiz

What do you know about the mummification process?

1. Whose mummy is the one portrayed in the documentary? It’s the mummy of a young man called Heracletes It’s the mummy of a old woman We don't know

2-Why did ancient Egyptians develop mummification? To preserve the body to study it To preserve the body for the afterlife It was compulsory, according to the law

3-Which internal organs were removed before mummification? All the internal organs were removed with the exception of the brain. None of the internal organs were removed. All the internal organs were removed with the exception of the heart.

4-Which substance covers the body for about forty days? Perfumed oils. Pepper, which is used to preserve soft tissues. Salt, which is used to eliminate moisture.

5- Which substances are rubbed then on the body? Honey and perfumed oils. Perfumed oils and plant resins. Plant resins and honey.

6- How do they glue the strips of linen around the body? With thick layers of glue they stick all the wrapping. With thick layers of perfumed oils they stick all the wrapping. They didn't glue the strips of linen.

7- Where is the body placed on? On the floor. On a wooden board. On a stone.

8- What is placed on the chest? The image of god Horus. Nothing is placed on the chest. A mysterious pouch with a religious significance.

9- What do they place over the face? A portrait panel with Heracletes face. Nothing is placed over the face. A portrait panel with an unknown face

10- What do they paint on the outer cloth? Egyptian symbols of protection and rebirth with pigments and gold . Egyptian symbols of fertility with pigments and silver. Egyptian symbols of the River Nile.

11- What is the last thing that they do? Heracletes’ name is written in Greek on the chest. Heracletes’ face is painted at the feet. Heracletes’ name is written in Greek at the feet.

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