From movies to video games, ancient Egyptian mummies have been the topic of many popular cultural phenomena. Here are some creepy facts about the ever popular mummies you need to know:
Ancient Egyptians believed that mummification, i.e., preserving the dead in a life-like state allows the soul to exist for perpetual eternity.
Egyptians would pull out the dead person’s brain via their nasal cavity. Brain wasn’t considered an important organ so was often thrown away.
Not only the brain, but other organs were also removed. This was done by making incisions. The organs were then dehydrated in salt solution, covered with a gum-resin embalming solution, wrapped in linen and stored in urns that were buried alongside the body.
Ancient Egyptians believed heart was very important. While the other organs were removed from the body upon mummification, the heart was left behind. They believed that the dead need their heart for a special test in their afterlife.
Mummification was not just for the pharaoh. Everyone was embalmed. However, the number of mummies is so low because people started eating them. As per the National Geographic, humans started consuming parts of ancient Egyptian mummies around 11th century. In 1909, England’s King Charles II was prescribed eating mummies as treatment for seizures.
Animals were often buried alongside humans. Theories suggest that these animals which included cats, dogs, birds and even crocodiles, could’ve been pet or even food for the deceased.
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