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Mummies prepared by human beings can be found all over the world. Some of the most famous come from Egypt.
Ancient Egyptians believed that a new life began after death. But people only got that life if their dead bodies stayed whole.
Over the centuries, Egyptians tried different ways to preserve bodies. Around 2,600 B.C., they found a perfect solution.
The body was carefully prepared by special priests, called embalmers. It took 70 days to get all the moisture out. The chief embalmer wore a jackal mask as he did his job. The mask represented Anubis, the god of embalming. The embalmer chanted magical spells while he worked.
At first, mummification was very expensive. Only pharaohs (ancient Egyptian rulers) could afford it. But by 1550 B.C., many regular Egyptians could afford it, too.
Mummification methods changed over the years. However, most embalmers followed these ten steps.
