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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchiveGrade Level: 3-7
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How to Make a Mummy
Scientists
from the University of Bristol in England have discovered something new
about mummies. Their research shows that ancient Egyptians knew a lot
more about mummification (embalming) than was once thought.
Richard Evershed and Stephen Buckly removed and analyzed tiny samples from thirteen mummies in British museums. The samples show that Egyptians used many different kinds of natural materials to dry and preserve bodies, such as plant oils, bee wax, and tree resin. The samples also show that they refined their embalming techniques over time.
Egyptologists
believed that petroleum oils were once used to preserve mummies (petroleum
oil is plentiful throughout the Middle East), but Evershed and Buckly
found no evidence of petroleum.
In this online lesson — just in time for Halloween — you will learn more about the ancient Egyptian practice of preserving the dead.
Mummification
Since
Evershed and Buckly are British scientists, it makes sense to start off
this lesson at The British Museum's Mummification
site. Read the introduction about why Egyptians started preserving bodies.
Then click Story
to learn how bodies were mummified. First read about Embalming
(click Next to go from page to page), and then read about Wrapping.
Why were many internal organs removed? What did the embalmers do with
them? 
What
were the amulets for? What was used to glue the bandages together? What
was the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony for?
Go back to the Mummification home page now, but this time click Explore. When the page opens, click on any part of the pictures to find our more about the mummy and the objects shown. What kind of people had collars painted on their coffins? What is on the lid of a canopic jar?
Go back to the Mummification home page once again and click Challenge. Play this interactive game to see if you can make it to the Underworld. You will need Shockwave for this activity.
Make a Mummy
Learn
more about making mummies at National Geographic's Make
a Mummy site. Here you can follow along as modern scientists try
making their own mummy the old fashioned way. Read the first page, and
then click Next to learn about removing the brains and internal
organs. Click any image to see it larger. Click Next again to learn
about drying the body and beginning the wrapping. How many pounds of natron
were used to cover the body?
Maybe
you want to read a more humorous look at the making of a mummy. If that's
you — and if you don't mind getting a little grossed out — browse to
You
Wouldn't Want To Be An Egyptian Mummy. This online book has all
the right information, but the illustrations are funny and the writing
is a little crazy at times. Start by rolling your mouse over the buy in
bandages to see what he's thinking. Then click Introduction
to start you on your way; read the page and click Next> (on
the far right) to continue. Remember to keep rolling your mouse each new
picture. You should be able to figure out the rest.
Animal Mummies
Think
humans were the only ones preserved as mummies? Think again. A lot of
wealthy people preserved their favorite pets to have with them in the
afterlife. Find out more by visiting Animal
Mummies in the Cairo Museum. Once again, read and then click Next
to begin. On the following page you have several choices: Beloved
Pets, Sacred
Animals, Votive
Offerings, and Foods
for the after world.
Read
each page in order to look for answers to the following questions:
What kinds of pets did the ancient Egyptians have? What were animal cults? What are votive offerings? What are "victual mummies" and what were they for?
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Learners Online, Inc.