A mummy is a human or animal body that has been preserved using special procedures to prevent it from decaying. The most famous example of mummification comes from ancient Egypt, where the bodies of pharaohs, nobles and sometimes animals such as crocodiles, cats and hawks were mummified.
Mummification was a complex process that could take months. The body’s entrails were removed and stored in canopic jars while the body was treated with salt to remove the water. The body was then rubbed with resins and oils and wrapped in linen to protect it from environmental influences.
Mummies were important in ancient Egypt because Egyptians believed in life after death. They believed that the body in the afterlife was necessary to continue life in the realm of the dead. Mummies were buried in tombs or pyramids, along with precious treasures and items that the deceased could use in the afterlife. Today, mummies are important historical and archaeological artifacts that help us learn more about the life and culture of ancient civilizations.