Dear Reader, before we move forward, let's take a moment to delve into the subject of mummification. While I have previously explored the intriguing subject of burial rites and cemeteries in my GlobeTrotter Blogs, such as "Tombstone Tourist" and "Buried Deep," mummification stands out as the most interesting.

Mummification is preserving a person's or animal's body after death by deliberately drying or embalming the flesh. Typically, this procedure involves extracting moisture from the deceased body and employing chemicals or natural preservatives, like resin, to desiccate the flesh and organs.

It's noteworthy that the Egyptians were not the pioneers of mummification; this practice has been documented in numerous civilizations throughout history, including the Inca, Australia's Aboriginal people, Aztecs, and various African cultures, for thousands of years. The oldest unearthed mummies were discovered in the arid desert region of northern Chile, one of the driest places on Earth. These mummies belong to the Chinchorro culture, which thrived from 9,000 to 3,100 years ago. Surprisingly, the Chinchorro mummification practice predates the first Egyptian mummies, having commenced around 7,000 years ago, by about two millennia.

The term "mummy" originates in the Persian word "mumia," meaning bitumen or pitch. This association is from the ancient Egyptians' use of a substance called natron, a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, to dry bodies during mummification. The oldest known naturally preserved Egyptian mummy dates back just over 5,500 years, gaining prevalence during the Old Kingdom or the Age of the Pyramids (ca. 2686 – 2181 B.C.) and reaching new heights of sophistication during the New Kingdom (ca. 1550 – 1069 B.C.).

Mummification in ancient Egypt was predominantly reserved for the elite, including royalty, noble families, government officials, and the wealthy. This exclusion of common people was primarily due to the costly nature of the practice. For the elite, the mummification process involved a series of meticulous steps:

Washing the body.
Removing all organs, except the heart, and placing them in jars.
Extracting the brain through the nose using a hook-like instrument (which reflects the belief that the heart, not the brain, was the center of a person's being and intelligence).
Packing the body and organs in salt to remove moisture for 70 days.
After 70 days, washing the body and wrapping it in linen.
Applying a sticky resin to ensure the bandages adhered to the body.
Embalming the body with resins and essential oils like myrrh, cassia, juniper oil, and cedar oil.
Wrapping the embalmed corpse in several layers of linen.

Pharaohs' mummies were placed in ornate stone coffins called sarcophagi and buried in elaborate tombs with everything deemed necessary for the afterlife, including vehicles, tools, food, wine, perfume, and household items.

The mummification of animals was also prevalent in ancient Egypt, driven by the belief that animals were sacred and associated with specific deities. Mummified cats and crocodiles, for example, have been discovered in tombs, honouring and appeasing the gods they represented.

In ancient Egyptian tombs, numerous mummified cats have been uncovered, revealing the cultural significance attached to these animals. Similarly, crocodiles, considered sacred beings, were mummified and interred in designated tombs known as "crocodile pits".

During my travels, I had the opportunity to visit the Crocodile Museum in Kom Ombo, located in southern Egypt, where twenty-two crocodile mummies are openly displayed. Here, one can witness the manifestation of Sobek, the ancient Egyptian god of the Nile, who bestowed fertility upon the land. Sobek is often portrayed as a crocodile, a mummified crocodile, or a man with the head of a crocodile.

The tradition of Egyptian mummification gradually dwindled in the fourth century during the rule of Rome over Egypt. The advent of Christianity marked the cessation of the mummification process.

The unwrapping of mummies has been a controversial practice, as some people believe that it disrespects the deceased and goes against their beliefs and traditions. However, the analysis of mummies has also provided valuable information about the health, lifestyle, and practices of ancient peoples.

If you are new to the Karl Chronicles, get caught up on our expedition around the world! Start here 150 highlights from 150 Chronicles

Then get caught up on the rest of our journey, click here for more Karl Chronicles

The Karl Journey is now registered as an official expedition with the Royal Geographical Society