A mummy is a human or animal body that has been preserved from decomposition by special techniques, generally practiced in ancient times. Mummies have been discovered in many parts of the world, but the most famous are those found in Egypt, where the practice of mummification dates back some 4,000 years.
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Mummification was practiced by the Egyptians to preserve the body of the deceased and render it fit for immortality. According to Egyptian belief, the soul of the deceased had to be preserved in order to cross over to the afterlife and achieve immortality. To do this, it was necessary to preserve the physical body, which was considered the vehicle of the soul.
Mummification was a complex and costly process, reserved for the rich and powerful. The first step in mummification was to remove the internal organs, which were usually discarded or embalmed separately. The brain was removed through the nostrils with metal instruments, while the internal organs were removed through an incision in the left side of the body. Once the internal organs had been removed, the body was cleaned and treated with chemicals to preserve it.
Your child will love cartoons featuring mummies as main characters, like “Tad the Explorer”. Give her a mummy coloring page by choosing the model of your choice and downloading it for free.