Mummies & Tombs
In ancient Egypt just about everyone who died was mummified, although only the rich were able to afford tombs. For the majority of the Egyptian empire tombs were small, underground rooms carved out of the bedrock beneath the sands of Egypt. Although they took great precautions to fend off grave robbers, very few tombs have been found intact. One of the most notable tombs found intact was that of Tutankhamun, which was absolutely packed with thousands of priceless objects. Along with the mummy and canopic jars containing king Tut's organs, they found all types of jewelry, chariots, weapons, clothing, statues, textiles, just about everything the pharaoh thought he might need in the afterlife.
Hundreds of Egyptian tombs line the desert with a large portion of them concentrated in the valley of the kings. One of the most interesting in terms of the mummies and artifacts found is KV55 which was discovered about 15 years ago.
The materials and techniques used to mummify a rich person were far better than that of a poorer person. In the mummies of some people believed to be from royal families they found jewels and precious metals placed strategically throughout the actual wrappings of the mummy. The organs were removed in order to prevent the bodies decomposition but they believed you needed the organs in the afterlife so they put them into canopic jars and placed them in the burial. It was believed that the jars contained parts of your soul and it was highly taboo for anyone to open these jars once the organs were sealed inside.
The Egyptian also mummified all types of animals. They worshipped cats and bulls particularly but they had great respect for all animals, attributing to them certain characteristics of the gods. We regularly find the mummies of cats, dogs, birds, one or two bulls, and even crocodiles.
The Egyptian also mummified all types of animals. They worshipped cats and bulls particularly but they had great respect for all animals, attributing to them certain characteristics of the gods. We regularly find the mummies of cats, dogs, birds, one or two bulls, and even crocodiles.