Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
The Mysterious work
of the Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
The mysteries surrounding how the Ancient Embalmers of Egypt created
mummies has slowly
unravelled over the years. The
embalmers were
very secretive about their art and process of creating mummies and left no
accounts which related to their embalming techniques, mysteries, ceremonies and rituals.
Hieroglyphics and spells have provided an insight into the method of
creating mummies by the Ancient Egyptian Embalmers, as do
artefacts such as the embalmers tools and instruments and the embalmers table. The writings
of the Greek traveller called Herodotus have provided a significant amount of information
into the methods applied and processes followed by the Ancient Egyptian Embalmers.
The History of
Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
The tradition and history of
Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
started with the myths and legends of the Ancient Egyptian gods, in
particular Osiris. In the
creation myth Osiris was murdered by his younger, jealous brother
Seth but brought back to life, by his wife Isis, for just one day. The body of Osiris was embalmed by
the god Anubis who therefore made Osiris the first of the mummies. The Egyptian method of
preparing the body for mummification applied by the embalmers varied according to the social status of
the deceased. At first only the pharaohs were made into mummies but this
ritual was
later extended to other Egyptians who were wealthy enough to pay for the
process to become a mummy. Eventually even the peasants were made into
mummies. The reason
that Ancient Egyptian Mummies
were created was to keep the soul alive and
ensure a clear path to the Afterlife.
The Roles of the
Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
Who were the Embalmers in Ancient Egypt who created the mummies of
Ancient Egypt? Where did the
ancient Egyptian embalmers work?
The embalmers worked on the west bank of the River Nile well away from the
residential area of Egypt. The process of creating the Ancient Egyptian
mummies was both a religious and
technical process and therefore practised by the priests who were
trained in both the embalming techniques and the religious rituals that
were associated with it. There were different types of priest embalmers
who worked in an embalming hall and workshop called a “Wabet”
which meant a
clean place. The names and the roles of the Ancient Egyptian embalmers were as follows:
-
The Hery Sesheta
(the priest who wore the Anubis mask) - The Hery Sesheta was
in charge of the embalming process and the creation of the
mummies. The
name Hery Sesheta meant 'Overseer of the Mysteries'. The Hery Sesha
embalmer priest made the incision for
removal of the internal organs of the corpse
-
The Hetemw
Netjer - The Hetemw Netjer was the embalmer priest who assisted the Hery Sesheta with the death rituals
-
The Hery Heb -
The Hery Heb was the lector priest who worked with the
embalmers and was present to read
magical spells and prayers which
related to the rituals used when creating the Ancient Egyptian
mummies
-
The Wetyw - The
Wetyw were the most junior embalmers and undertook jobs such as
removing the organs and bandaging the Ancient Egyptian
mummies during the
mummification process
Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
The process and techniques used by the Ancient Egyptian embalmers for creating the
Mummies of Ancient Egyptian differed according to
the roles and the wealth of the people they were embalming. At
first only the bodies of dead Pharaohs were made into mummies. The
wealthier the deceased, the more elaborate the process followed by the
priest embalmers and the more elaborate the rituals
and ceremonies conducted by the Ancient Egyptian Embalmers. The role of
the priest embalmers was lucrative and powerful. The three different categories of Ancient Egyptian
Mummies
were as follows:
-
The Pharaoh,
Royalty and Nobility
-
The Middle
Classes - scribes, army officers, doctors etc
-
The Egyptian
Peasants
The Ancient
Egyptian Embalmers Seventy Day Rule
for creating mummies
The process and rituals practised by the embalmers for the creation of
mummies for their final
burial rites lasted for a period of seventy days. The seventy day
period corresponded to the length of time during which Sirius, the 'Dog
Star', appeared to die by dipping below the horizon. The 70 day rule
observed by the embalmers
applied to all classes of Egyptians - rich or poor. The seventy day
process for creating the Ancient Egyptian mummies of wealthy Egyptians was divided
by the embalmers into the
following activities:
Egyptian Ancient Egyptian Embalmers
Each section of this Egyptian website addresses all topics and
provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of
Egypt. The Sitemap provides full details
of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of Egypt, the Ancient Egyptians and of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, King Tut.
|
