Pathways Egypt

In modern society, the concept of bandage-wrapped mummy is rarely seen outside of horror films. However, despite this contravening the original reasons for mummification, it is understandable that this has become the case. Across the ages, in civilizations that have never practiced the act, mummification holds a grim fascination.

The most famous of all the known mummies tend to be those from Ancient Egypt, and it is with this period and location that most would associate mummification. The Egyptians practiced mummification as a way of preserving the body after death, which allowed for the life force (or Ka) to continue its journey into the afterlife. The ancient Egyptian concept of the soul is unlike the modern, Western idea: the Egyptian soul was made up of body parts and different entities, of which the Ka was only one. To preserve the Ka, one must preserve the vessel – the body – it has resided within.

While modern films portray mummies as being wrapped in ‘bandages’, the strips of cloth wrapped around a mummified body were the final, rather than necessary, part of the process. The main act of mummification comes from various chemicals, particularly salt, being applied to the skin to prevent decomposition. This is startlingly effective, and a mummy usually remains in tact when the ‘bandages’ are removed.

The process of mummification is long and arduous, involving both physical acts and spiritual rites of passage and ceremony. An important aspect of the process was the removal of organs , which were then stored alongside the mummy in its tomb. All organs but the heart were removed, as the heart was considered an element of the soul itself. The brain was usually disposed of without ritual, as the Ancient Egyptians judged it to be inconsequential; while this may seem somewhat alien to us today, almost all Egyptian mummies are found without their brain in the tomb with them.

The most famous of the Egyptian mummies is that of the Pharaoh, Ramesses II. Ramesses II was something of a legendary Pharaoh, and has gained a place in popular history due to it largely being presumed he presided over the Exodus referenced in the Old Testament. His mummy was discovered in his tomb – which is located in the Valley of the Kings – in 1981. Following a brief visit to Paris for examination, the mummy of Ramesses II is now on display at the Cairo Museum, where it continues to draw crowds of visitors.

When the tomb of the boy-Pharaoh Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922, a story quickly spread through the media that the explorers had uncovered an ancient curse. This was propagated by the death of the financier of the exploration, Lord Carnarvon, who died unexpectedly from malaria within four months of the discovery.

With the discovery of the tomb, the intellectual world was suddenly Egypt-crazy, and the current wave of Egyptology began. This spread to the general populace who, entranced by the idea of a curse, sought further media sources to fuel their interest. The media responded by creating stories where there was none; while Carnarvon had indeed died soon after the discovery, the overall death rate of those in the tomb in subsequent years was average. Nonetheless, stories began to surface of curses written in hieroglyphics and doomed endings for those involved in the excavation – and the ‘Curse of the Pharaohs’ was born.

While the stories of curses found within the tomb of Tutankhamun have no factual basis, there is nevertheless a history of curses within the tombs of Pharaohs This seems to have been a common practice during the 9 and 10 Dynasties of Pharaohs; Tutankhamun, by comparison, was Nineteenth Dynasty. The Nine and 10 Dynasty tombs do include inscriptions warning people of disturbing the Pharaoh, but it is more the exception than the rule.

As mentioned previously, the death rate of those involved in the excavation is no higher than a sample population of the population. Carnarvon’s death was unusual – he died following a mosquito bite, which became infected – but was by no means a sign of a curse.

While the boy-king has fascinated the world since the discovery of his tomb, it is unlikely that such a curse exists. However, there is still an ongoing worry in some intellectual circles over the entering of Pharaoh tombs, a superstition which doubtlessly finds its roots in the 1922 excavation of Tutankhamun.

Today, the use of the word ‘Pharaoh’ is used to refer to a king-like ruler of ancient Egypt, though this usage actually evolved over time. The original usage and meaning is ‘Royal House’, just as we would describe the Windsor Royal House for the current United Kingdom monarchy. In time, however, the word’s usage began to change until eventually it literally referred to a “king”.

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt ruled similarly to their Western counterparts. They rule on an hereditary basis, though the title did not always pass direct from father-to-son. Each direct set of descendants are attributed to a ‘Dynasty’, which is usually prefaced with a number. For example, the builder of the Pyramid of Giza Khufu was a Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh, while the boy-king Tutankhamun was Nineteenth Dynasty. By and large, however, the blood line is preserved in one way or another through a matrilineal (traced through the female line) descent.

Pharaohs were human beings on earth as well as, scripture says, representatives of the Egyptians Gods. The initial belief was that the Pharaohs were the sons of the cow deity Bat, but this eventually changed. The most well known belief was that, in life, the Pharaohs were the earthly incarnation of the deity Horus in life and Osiris once dead. Upon the death of a Pharaoh, they were believed to unite with Osiris, the God of the Afterlife.

Given the often misogynistic approach of most ancient civilizations, the Pharaohs were remarkably forward thinking. The blood line was passed through the female line, and the right to be a Pharaoh depended on birth (or marriage) to a previous Queen. The wives of a Pharaoh were involved in society and governance, and while the Pharaoh was always the supreme leader and male, the role of women was well appreciated.

The Pharaohs duties include everything we would associate with Kingship today, in terms of both government and ceremonial duty. They also, though their believed link to Osiris, played a religious role in Ancient Egypt.