T.J. Laverne
author of supernatural historical fiction
Mummies
At the Cataract Hotel, someone is killing people and turning them into mummies, Ancient Egyptian style. But to the Ancient Egyptians, mummification was a deeply religious and spiritual undertaking, performed for a very significant purpose.
In order for the deceased’s soul to make the journey to the afterlife, the deceased’s body needed to be perfectly preserved. Preparing the body for the afterlife was a long process with many steps, which each had to be performed in a particular way, with the correct prayers. The rituals were performed by many priests, during which the head priest would wear the jackal-headed mask of Anubis, the god of the dead.
First, the brain was removed slowly through the nostrils with a special hooked instrument, taking pains not to disfigure the face. The Egyptians did not think the brain was important, so it was disposed of. The heart was left in the chest, as it would be needed later. Four other organs were then placed into canopic jars in the shapes of different gods and goddesses, which were thought to protect the organs. The stomach was placed in a canopic jar with a cover in the shape of a jackal head, the liver with a human head, the intestines with a falcon head, and the lungs with a baboon head.
After the organs were removed, the body was covered in natron for 70 days, in order to dry it out. It was then rubbed with oil and purified with a number of herbs and spices: cedar, peppermint, lavender, thyme, rose, frankincense, almond oil, etc. If the body’s shape had been compromised, it would be packed with linen, and the face would be painted and fake eyes placed over the eyelids. The objective was to get the body looking as lifelike as possible. When finished, the body was wrapped carefully in linen, along with magical amulets meant to assist and protect the spirit.
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The body was then placed in a coffin elaborately painted to resemble the deceased, which was then placed inside a tomb. It was essential that the tomb be stocked with everything the soul needed for the afterlife.
First and foremost, it needed a copy of the Book of the Dead, which contained instructions for navigating the long journey to the afterlife. Possessions were also packed with the body, as well as the four canopic jars, and all the necessities for living, including food and drink. Sometimes, the deceased’s pets or servants were mummified and buried with the body, to continue to serve and protect their master. The body might also be buried with shabtis, or statues, which were inscribed with spells in order to bring them to life, for the purpose of doing work for the deceased in the afterlife.
The journey to the afterlife was long and arduous, and the soul needed directions in order to make it. First, the soul would journey through the underworld by boat to the Hall of Truth. There the deceased’s heart would be weighed against the Feather of Truth, to determine if it was pure enough to journey on. Then, the deceased would stand judgement against 42 gods in a sort of trial, with the purpose of proving his or her innocence. After the Hall of Truth, the soul would cross the Lake of Flowers to the ultimate destination: the Field of Reeds. There, the deceased would be given a plot of land to sow and harvest, and to make his or her own for the rest of eternity.