The Egyptians thought that life after death was a lot like life on Earth. So they wanted to protect and preserve their dead for the next life. The pyramid’s job was to protect the body.
To preserve the body, a process known as mummification was invented around 2600 B.C. Mummification might take as long as 70 days. First, the brain was taken out of the body—through the nostrils! Next, the other major organs were taken out. They were put in tightly sealed jars. The body was then dried out for about 40 days. The Egyptians used a salt compound called natron to do this. In the next stage, the body was embalmed. That means it was treated with molten resin and perfumed oils. Finally, the body was wrapped in linen bandages.
