Final answer:
Egyptian priests embalmed bodies to preserve them for the afterlife, ensuring the physical form remained for the spirit elements of the deceased to continue existing. The detailed mummification process involved removing organs, with the heart left in the body, and storing other organs in canopic jars as part of their religious practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Egyptian priests embalmed bodies to ensure the preservation of the physical body after death, which was an essential part of the Egyptian belief system. In their religion, the physical body needed to be intact for the spiritual elements, such as the Ka and Ba, to continue their existence in the afterlife. The process of embalming and mummification was intricate and reflected the deceased's status, with the heart typically left inside the body as the embodiment of the soul. The internal organs, except the heart, were removed, placed in canopic jars, and buried with the mummy, each watched over by a different god. By preserving the body, the Egyptian priests were fulfilling a critical role in securing the deceased's passage to the underworld and the subsequent afterlife.