Egyptian Mummies

Mummies are bodies that have been saved from rotting away. The ancient Egyptians were famous for making mummies. They believed people needed their bodies in the afterlife. So they carefully preserved the dead. Some mummies are still around today, more than 3,000 years later.

Making a Mummy

Making a mummy took about 70 days. Workers first removed the inside organs and saved them in jars. Then they used a special salt called natron to dry out the body. After drying, the body was wrapped in many layers of cloth. Finally, it was placed inside a painted coffin.

Burial and Tombs

Mummies were buried in special tombs. Rich people had big tombs full of gold, food, and toys for the afterlife. Pharaohs were sometimes buried inside pyramids. Workers drew pictures and wrote prayers on the tomb walls. They hoped these things would help the person in the next life.

Fun Facts

• Ancient Egyptians even made mummies of animals like cats and crocodiles.
• Some mummies still have hair and fingernails today.
• The brain was pulled out through the nose during mummy making.

Did You Know?

Scientists can study Egyptian mummies with special machines without unwrapping them, and they have even learned what the ancient Egyptians ate for dinner.