Secrets of Pharaoh’s Mummification Techniques

By Ali Abu Dashish and Salma Yassin

CAIRO, March 2 (SEE)- Mummification's main goal in pharaohs’ era was keeping the original form of a dead body for the “Ka”, which means the soul, to be able to return back to itself in hereafter.

The Egyptian Archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass said mummification has remained one of pharaoh’s secrets and the great Greek historian Herodotus revealed a lot in this science.

This science was described by some people as a high-level art practiced by ancient Egyptian doctors who were pioneers in setting anatomy basics world-wide.

Hawass pointed out that recent discoveries provided the whole world precious information in mummification field.

The tomb number 63 in the Valley of the Kings located in front of Tutankhamen’s tomb was the first step to the discovery of mummification’s secrets.

Inside this tomb, a delegation from University of Memphis in USA headed by Dr. Otto Schaden uncovered mummification materials that were put inside 8 coffins.

These materials were the rest of mummification's substances used in mummifying king Tutankhamen.

As an Egyptian team leader who was responsible for examining royal mummies, Hawass stated that pharaohs used to dry dead bodies using “natron” salt and this process was taking 40 days.

He added that this might be the reason why Egyptians are still commemorating the 40th day after one’s death.

After drying process, Hawass said other mummification steps take place for another complete month.

On his part, Herodotus revealed that ancient Egyptians were removing brains out of dead bodies' heads by dissolving it and getting it out from the nose or through a small opening in head’s back.

King Tutankhamen’s brain was removed and replaced by amount of resin.

Herodotus also stated that, this technique was not pursued all the time; as after examining mummies of Kings Tuthmosis I, III and IIII, brains were found inside their heads.

On the other hand, while examining other mummies belong to19th dynasty, it's been detected that brains were completely removed and replaced by linen balls soaked in resin’s oils, stones’ powder and dust.

Regarding mummy of Merenptah, the 13th son of Ramesses II, Herodotus confirmed only linen balls were put instead of his brain.

Also, head of father of queen Thuya’s was found completely empty and washed by resin.

In brief, it seems that different mummification’s techniques where used to maintain pharaohs’ bodies.

Also, it seems the materials used were expensive that’s why they were used sparingly and eventually, many other secrets are yet to be discovered.