Interesting Facts About Ancient Egyptian Mummification Facts 1: The practice of Ancient Egyptian mummification started accidentally, with bodies preserved in dry sand, but intentional mummification began around 2600 BCE during the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties. The practice evolved over more than 2,000 years, with varying levels of quality based on payment. The best-preserved mummies are from the New Kingdom’s Eighteenth through Twentieth Dynasties (ca. 1570–1075 BCE), including renowned pharaohs like Tutankhamun. The ritual of mummification was incredibly analyzed by early historians like Herodotus, who documented it during his visit to Egypt around 450 BCE. Fact 2: The practice of Ancient Egyptian mummification was very common, and not limited to only the rich or elite. While wealthier individuals underwent an elaborate and more expensive mummification process carried out by professional embalmers, regular Egyptians had more budget-friendly options. Even the poorest could opt for a simple burial where the deceased was wrapped in linen and accompanied by the necessary spells for their journey to the afterlife as seen across all the Ancient Egyptian coffins discovered all over upper and lower Egypt. Fact 3: In the extraordinary Egyptian mummification process, all the organs like the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines were carefully removed to prevent decay. These organs were deeply cleaned, dried, and placed in special jars that were then buried alongside the body. The heart, believed to hold a person’s emotions and personality, was left in place, as it played a pivotal role in the afterlife judgment. Fact 4: The brain whose function was not well understood was discarded. Embalmers used a hook through the nose to extract bits of the brain, then the cranial cavity was rinsed. the body was but in natron for over 70 days. The body was then wrapped meticulously in resin-coated linen strips, often around 4,000 square feet for the most elaborate mummies across 40 days. Pharaohs might have been wrapped in linen that previously adorned statues of gods, while common people used strips from household linens. The Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus of the deceased were made of a number of materials like wood, stone, or even gold which featured some of the most enchanting art that was mostly made of spells from the Book of the Dead and titles of the deceased with information about his or her life and achievements. Fact 5: Animal mummies were also highly common ranging from sacred animals to beloved pets, reflecting different religious and societal practices. it is worth nothing Animals were worshipped as gods, while others were raised for sacrificial purposes like Cats, Ibis, and Cows, plus were buried alongside their owners. Fact 6: The notion of a “Mummy’s Curse” was not a modern invention but had roots in ancient Egyptian beliefs. Tomb inscriptions warned of potential consequences for tomb robbers, invoking the wrath of gods, and even haunting by ghosts. This belief reflected a fear of retribution from the spiritual realm rather than a fear of the mummies themselves.