A step-by-step process of the Ancient Egyptian method of Mummification

1. Ensure your pharaoh makes it to
the afterlife safely!

2. So, your beloved pharaoh has just
died—what do you do now? You
must make sure to mummify him
correctly; any small mistake could
jeopardize his chances for eternal
life! But not to worry, just follow
this easy, step-by-step guide to
ensure that your holy leader
continues to live life everlasting.

4. First, make sure
the kingdom
knows the news.
Send a
messenger to the
city streets to cry
out the
announcement.

7. Wash the body in palm wine.

8. Rinse the body with water from
the Nile.

9. Make a small incision on the left
side of the body.

10. Remove important internal organs
through the slit. This includes
liver, lungs, stomach & intestines.

11. *Note* do NOT
remove the
heart—it is the
seat of the soul
and must remain
with the bearer!

12. Remove the brain by pulling it
out through the nose with a
hook (we’re not really sure what
the brain is for, but it can’t be
too important).

13. Stuff the body with natron (salt
and bicarbonate of soda). Use
the remainder to cover the
body.

14. Set the body and internal
organs outside in the hot sun to
dry.

15. Wait 40 days
for the body
and organs to
dry.

16. Rinse the body with water from
the Nile (yes, again).

17. Cover the body with fragrant oils (we
recommend myrrh, sandalwood, attar
of roses, and/or cedar).

18. Stuff the body with dry
materials, such as
sawdust, leaves, and/or linen. Be
careful not to use too much or too
little—you don’t want to disfigure
the body!

19. Cover the body with more
fragrant oils, for good measure.

20. Place the dried organs in the
corresponding canopic jars. Make
sure they are packed tight with natron.

21. Imsety, the human-headed god
looks after the liver.
Hapy, the baboon-headed
god looks after the lungs
Duamutef, the jackal-headed
god looks after the stomach
Qebehsenuef, the falcon-headed
god looks after the intestines.

22. You will need a special
slatted table for this
process. This is so you
can wrap around the
body without having to
keep turning it over.

23. Wrap the head and neck.

24. Wrap the fingers and toes.

25. Wrap the arms and legs.

26. Place the sacred
amulets on the body.
The most important is
the Ankh to protect the
welfare of the
deceased.
“The amulet is a protection
for this Great One, which will
drive off anyone who would
perform a criminal act
against him.” - The Book of the
Dead, 156th spell.

27. Read the appropriate spells from
The Book of the Dead to ensure
protection and a safe passage for
the soul.

28. Tie the arms and
legs together.
Remember to
place a copy of
The Book of the
Dead between
the arms.

29. Completely wrap the rest of the
body.

30. Paint the wrapped
body with resin to
seal and protect it.

31. Cover the body with a decorative
cloth (we suggest using the image
of Osiris).

32. Wrap strips of linen around the body
to keep the cloth in place. See the
diagram below for best placement.

33. Lay the mummy in
the first coffin.
Place that inside
the second coffin.

34. Hold the funeral and procession
honoring your beloved leader.

35. Perform the “Opening of the Mouth”
Ceremony, so that the deceased
may eat and drink in the next life.

36. Put the mummy into the
sarcophagus. Have a high
priest perform last rites:
“You will live again, you revive
always, you have become young
again, you are young again and
forever.”

37. Place the mummy in his final resting
place (pyramids are lovely, but you may
want to consider a more discrete tomb to
discourage grave robbers).

38. You have successfully ensured that
your pharaoh will live forever!