The Origins of Supernatural Beings

Staples of Horror- Mummies

Mummies

"Silent strength is the quality of all good men, and most mummies." -Theodore Roosevelt

Mummification is a process associated with ancient Egyptian burial rites. Westerners have been fascinated by ancient Egyptian tradition and culture for centuries leading to a popularization of content playing on the foreign and mysterious nature of ancient Egypt.

Mummification was not practiced solely by the Egyptians. Mummified bodies have been found from Northern and Southern Indigenous Americans, Australian Aboriginals, Koreans, Chinese, and Africans. Each culture has a unique mummification process utilizing different techniques and tools. The way Egyptians mummified their dead was not the same way the Chinchorro people of Peru and Chile fulfilled the process, although they may have had similar results. Egyptian mummification rituals were the most elaborate out of any culture. The oldest mummy on record dates back to 3,500 BC. Part of the reason the ritual was more complex and extravagant compared to other cultures was that mummification was reserved for high-status members of society. The mummies located in South America, for example, were likely average people, and so the supplies their families would have used to bury them would have been much less lavish in comparison.

The ancient Egyptians believed that when they died, their soul would survive and journey through the afterlife. Even after death, the soul would remain tethered to the body, and if the body was destroyed or decayed, then the soul could not continue to its destination. The first step of the mummification process was to remove the brain using a hook inserted through the nose. Afterwards, a cut would be made on the left side of the abdomen, and the internal organs would be removed. All the internal organs, except the lungs, intestines, stomach and liver, would be left outside to dry. The lungs, intestines, stomach and liver would be placed in canopic jars. After it has dried, the heart would be placed back into the body, and the internal cavity would be washed with wine and spices. The entire body would then be encased in salt and left to dry for an additional 70 days. Wait 40 days post salt treatment before stuffing the corpse with linen to reshape it. Allow the body to reconfigure for 70 days before binding it from head to toe in bandages. Finally, add decorations and place the mummy in the sarcophagus.

The canopic jars containing the lungs, intestines, stomach and liver would have been placed in the burial chamber as well. Each organ received a separate jar, and each jar was believed to be guarded by a different deity. Imsety protected the liver, Qebhesneuf preserved the intestines, Hapy guarded the lungs and Duamutef protected the stomach. The sarcophagus, canopic jars and burial chamber would have been given inscriptions and depictions of the soul's journey through the afterlife.

Egypt has always been a matter of discussion in parts of the world touched by Abrahamic tradition. Egypt is mentioned extensively through the Old and New Testament. The Roman Empire became Christian in 380 AD, resulting in Europe remaining predominantly Christian even after its collapse on May 29, 1453. Christians who attended church would have heard stories about Egypt, sparking interest in the nation. On July 1, 1798, the French army led by Napoleon Bonaparte began its campaign into Egypt. The campaign was meant to be an attack on the Ottoman Empire, which was allied with the British during that period. The French and the British were old enemies, and Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to travel through Egypt to join forces with the Indian Tipu Sultan, who was in the midst of a rebellion against the British who had been colonizing his country.

The French army arrived in Egypt with 400 ships manned by 54,000 soldiers. Additionally, Napoleon Bonaparte brought an entourage of 150 intellectuals trained in engineering, science, and scholarly studies to record Egyptian culture and history. The capital Cairo was captured on July 1st, 1798, the first day of the take-over. Following that victory, the city of Alexandria was conquered on July 2nd, 1798. Although the initial capture of Cairo and Alexandria was swift, the French lost control of the cities within six months due to the rebellions waged by the locals who wanted to reclaim their homeland. In that short amount of time, the 150 professionals managed to gather an array of information. They collected and classified minerals, recorded the native flora and fauna, created topographical surveys and observed the economic patterns of the region.