Many ancient civilizations believed in life after death. Mummification is usually correlated with ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed that mummification would guarantee the soul passage into the next life. The process and beliefs varied and had changed over several thousand years, but the main points were very similar.
The need to preserve the body from decay was probably the most important part of the Egyptian belief in a life after death because the spirit was thought to inhabit it at times. In the Predynastic period before 3,000 B.C. and the beginning of the Pharonic Age, the body was placed in a grave in the sand with some simple offerings. The natural heat and dryness preserved it with little need for embalming or other preparation. As society developed in Egypt and tombs became much more elaborate, it was necessary to treat the body to protect it from decay. After death, the pharaohs of Egypt usually were mummified and buried in elaborate tombs. Members of the......
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