Ancient Egypt Inquiry

World History Ancient Egypt Mummification based on social status and gender JESSICA BIRO

02 TABLE OF CONTENTS 03. SOCIAL PYRAMID An overview of the hierarchy in Ancient Egypt. 04. MUMMIFICATION How mummification differed from the three main time periods in relation to social status. 06. TOMBS Goes over the main types of tombs, sarcophaguses, and death masks and how they related to the status of the mummy. 09. AMULETS Analyzation of the usage of amulets, and where they were found. Comparison of different mummies and their amulets. 12. RELATION TO THE AFTERLIFE Short analysis of the relation between social status and mummification, covering differences in afterlife.

03 Social Hierarchy Pharaohs Government officials, nobles, priests Soldiers Scribes Merchants Craftsmen Farmers & Slaves This social pyramid is a simple breakdown, however it was probable for individuals on the lower side to have higher importance and vice versa. In addition to this, the social hierarchy tended to change, especially since ancient Egypt lasted around 3000 years. However, pharaohs were always at the top followed by priests and royalty, and slaves and farmers at the bottom.

04 Mummification Timeline The Old Kingdom (2675 - 2130 BC) Queen Hetepheres' (Pharaoh The old kingdom was the start of mummification, but the Khufu's mother) alabaster box method used then was so efficient that they continued to Mummy of a man who lived in 2300BC use it until the end of ancient Egypt. The process of mummification involved evisceration of the body, drying with natron (sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate), using resin to stop bacteria from decomposing the body, and wrapping it in linen bandages. The fingers and toes were wrapped together not individually. The evisceration process was done with an incision on the left lower abdomen, closed by stuffing linen into the wound, and everything was taken out, except for the heart. Before the start of canopic jars, the organs were placed in an alabaster box. It is said that embalmers got the idea of mummification, from the natural mummies found dried by the dessert. In the old kingdom, mummification was exclusively for royalty and pharaohs. The lower class was not artificially mummified, instead they were buried in the sand for natural mummification. The Middle Kingdom (2040 - 1630 BC) Similar to the old kingdom, few people were artificially mummified. The usage of resin was more common and Mostwas the preferable strategy for preservation. mummies in this period were eviscerated, however there were a couple which were just wrapped in linen. Perhaps suggesting that it had some sort of additional cost, and was available for the wealthier citizens. Even the royals were not all eviscerated, the queens and daughters of the Pharaoh Mentuhotep ll being a prime example. The usage of canopic jars had started around this era, they stored four organs in these jars, the stomach, intestines, Canopic Jars of Nebsen and Senwosret lungs and liver. These canopic jars of Nebsen and 1981-1802 BC Senwosret were the first jars with human-headed lids.

05 The New Kingdom (1539 - 1075 BC) Mummification became available to all social classes in this period. Brain removal was more popular during this era compared to the old and middle kingdom. However, according to Herodotus, he stated that the lower class would have organs eaten away with an enema of cedar oil, and the elite would have them taken out. Which was disproven since most of the lower class were also eviscerated, just with less care. While they were bandaged, the embalmers had much more care with the higher class, often wrapping each individual finger. However, Pharaoh Sobkemsaf ll scarab mummification still differed amongst different heart amulet (produced 1590BC) social statuses, in this era only the elite class had cranial resin. Which was actually made to distinguish them from commoners. A couple examples of royal cranial resin being the five pharaohs: Seti I, Ramses II, Merneptah, Ramses III, and Tutankhamun who all ruled during the new elitekingdom. Another aspect would be that the classes would leave their hearts in their bodies, or replace it with a scarab inscribed with prayers, an example being Pharaoh Sobkemsaf ll. This was discovered by Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian, who stated that if the heart were to be removed, it would be replaced by a metallic or stone scarab. Sometimes the scarab X-Ray of King Tutankhamun was also inserted beside the heart instead of demonstrating the use of cranial resin replaced. These mummies also had their fingernails and toenails tied, or they would use gold to keep the nails on.

06 Tombs There are about three types of ancient pyramidsEgyptian tombs, the famous such as the great pyramid of Giza, mastabas, built of mud brick or stone with a flat roof and rock-cut chambers, cut into the side of mountains. The tombs of pharaohs discovered in the valley of kings (rock cut chambers) didn’t only have riches and amulets, but Valley of the kings, burial of 62 royal tombs. also ordinary things that were needed in the mummy’s rebirth. This included but was not limited to, furniture, pots, clothes and jewelry. They were also buried with their mummified pets, likely baboons, cats, dogs or even birds. These animals were to aid them in the afterlife along their journey. Tombs of the pharaohs were often also stocked with foods and wine for a “royal feasting” in the next world. Members of Elaborate layout of the famous King Tutankhamun's tomb the lower class could have been buried usuallywith mummified pets, but it was a family cat. Pharaohs were believed to become Simple burial of the lower class, natural mummification and little possessions and amulets gods after death, so their burial tombs were much more elaborate, such as the great pyramid of Giza, built as Pharaoh Khufu’s tomb, or the valley of kings where King Tut was buried. It wasn’t often that the lower class or middle class had decently sized tombs, if anything they were buried in smaller rock-cut chambers or in a simple grave in the sand.

07 Mummy Sarcophagus Sacophagus of Lady Sattjeni (Middle Another indicator of wealth or social status would be the mummy’s Kingdom around 1800 BC) sarcophagus. Which was essentially a Gold was seen as the \"flesh of the container to hold a coffin. If one was a gods\", and silver as the \"bones\" to the ancient Egyptians. Silver was peasant or slave in the lower class, extraordinarily rare in this time period they wouldn’t be able to afford to be since it had to be imported. Which was buried in one, or even to be mummified. Throughout the entirety of the ancient why pharaohs, or very high ranking Egyptian timeline, only the wealthier individuals, would be buried in a gold and higher class would be buried in a (or gold plated) or other special metal specifically made sarcophagus. Which sarcophagus. Psusennes I was one of would be engraved with the the only pharaohs who was buried in a deceased's name and title and was decorated with hieroglyphs and silver coffin. The lower class usually did drawings of their ,afterlife like the one of Lady Sattjeni. not get sarcophaguses, the middle and Psusennes l (New Kingdom around 1001 BC) higher class would receive stone, wood or cartonnage sarcophaguses.

Death Masks 08 Inside the mummy’s sarcophagus, there Mask of King Tutankhamun Mask of Pharaoh Psusennes l were usually death masks. It was very Masks of Yuya and Thuya important to Egyptian religion, since they thought that the soul would be able to recognize the body and return to the mummy. They were made to resemble the individual, but had their features changed a bit to demonstrate perfection. The mask itself did not relate to the mummy’s social status, but Pharaohsinstead the material used. , receivedwho were considered gods, gold or silver masks. The pharaohs Tutankhamun and Psusennes l were uncovered with gold funerary masks. However, most pharaohs had their graves robbed, and since the masks were made of precious metals, people would steal, melt them down and sell lower andthem. On the other hand, the middle classes had masks originally made out of wood, in the old kingdom, but later on they were made of cartonnage. Which were essentially the cheaper (still expensive) option. There were also royalty who received gold plated cartonnage masks, but not solid gold. A prime example being the masks Yuyaof a royal courtier for Amenhotep Thuyalll and his wife. They were found with cartonnage death masks, covered with gold leaf.

09 The Usage of Amulets Heart Scarab Amulet The presence of amulets on mummies can clearly indicate higher status amongst ancient Egyptian mummies, however the absence of them does not indicate lower status due to grave robbing in ancient Egypt. Amulets in ancient Egypt were very sacred to the afterlife, as they were believed to protect the dead. They were usually placed on the mummy around the bandages, and would be miniature symbols of animals or gods. Common symbols being the eye of Horus, and scarabs. If you were buried with amulets, they would essentially help you in the afterlife. Amulets made of expensive materials, such as gold and silver were made for the elite class of the ancient civilization, since the lower one could not afford it. It was more commonly seen in pharaohs, priests and individuals of the royal family. However, when the tombs of non-royal or religious figures were discovered, they also had a couple amulets. King Tutankhamun amulets (closeup)

Amulets often carried more than one meaning 10 though, not only associated with the afterlife. Cobra Amulet (regeneration) Eye of Horus Amulet (protection) Most were a symbol of a higher being give the(gods), that was suspected to wearer its power. Amulets were used by both the living and the dead. Most were inexpensive and available to all of the different social classes. Used to avoid disease among other things for the living, and for protection for the dead. eye ofA commonly known amulet is the Horus, who is an Egyptian god often represented as a falcon. It’s said to be a symbol of protection and regeneration, it was very important to the Egyptians. The material used to make this specific amulet was fairly cheap, so it was common even amongst the lower classes. Which is why the amount of amulets doesn’t exactly equal social status or wealth but depending on the material and significance instead. Amulet comparison Famous Pharaoh The famous King Tutankhamun had 143 objects and amulets in his wrappings. He did not do much during his era of ruling, however, he was deemed very important to the people since he allowed them to return back to their old religion after his father Akhenaten tried to create King Tutankhamun (New Kingdom around 1326 BC) a monotheistic religion.

Royal individuals 11 A royal courtier Yuya, and his Yuya & Thuya wife Thuya were already royally (New Kingdom around 1352 BC) implicated since Yuya was the father of Queen Tiye who was Djedmaatesankh the wife of Amenhotep lll. Their tombs were not robbed or (Third Intermediate Period around 945-715 BC) disturbed and Yuya found with Scribe Wah Gold Embalming Plate and Thuya with four amulets made (First Intermediate Period around 2005 BC) of stone and gold. Middle Class Djedmaatesankh was an ordinary female from the middle class, her mummy was found in Thebes and she was encased in a cartonnage coffin that was decorated with many pictures of gods and an image of Djedmaatesankh herself. She was not removed from her sarcophagus, instead X-rays show two amulets in her wrappings. Wah was a scribe, which would have been from the middle class of ancient Egypt. He was found with three scarab amulets, one being a large silver amulet inscribed with hieroglyphs. The wing of the scarab shows that he was the estate manager of Meketre, who was a high ranking official.

King Tut's Tomb Murals Relation to the Afterlife Higher-ranking citizens, would have a much more luxurious afterlife since they would bring all their riches and possessions with them. They also had mummified animals aid them on their journey and were mummified with much more care, therefore being regenerated stronger and more intact. The higher class would receive more precious amulets, to protect them and aid in their regeneration. They also had many paintings and inscriptions in their tombs, exhibiting their possible afterlife, whereas the lower citizens didn’t receive such care and attention to detail.