The Mummification Process

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(female narrator)
This is a mummy of a young man
named Heraclides.

He died in Egypt
in the first century AD

when he was about 20 years old.

Mummification was developed
by the ancient Egyptians

to preserve the body
for the afterlife.

Typically all internal organs
were removed before mummification

with the exception of the heart,

but in this case
the heart was removed

and the lungs were left intact.

Next the body was covered
with salt

and left for about forty days

until all moisture was eliminated.

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Perfumed oils and plant resins
were rubbed on the body.

Thick layers of resin were applied

to glue the strips of linen

that were wrapped around the body.

The mummy was placed
on a wooden board

and more wrappings
bound them together.

A mysterious pouch,
perhaps of religious significance

was placed on the chest.

A mummified ibis,
a wading bird

with slender down-curved bill

was placed on the abdomen.

Ibis mummies commonly served

as votive offerings to the gods,

but this is an unusual case
of a bird being mummified

with a deceased human.

Long linen strips
further secured the wrappings.

A portrait panel of Heraclides
was placed over the face.

A large linen cloth
was wrapped around the mummy.

The shroud was painted red

with an imported lead-based pigment.

This treatment is rare.

Very few red-shroud mummies
are known to exist.

Egyptian symbols
of protection and rebirth

were painted on the outer cloth

with pigments and gold.

Finally, Heraclides' name
was written in Greek

at the feet.

Thanks to this
remarkable mummification process

Heraclides' body
is with us today.

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