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Why were a person's internal organs removed early on in the mummification process? Where were they

put?

User Nghia Bui
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One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose. The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines are washed and packed in natron which will dry them out. They left only the heart in place, believing it to be the center of a person's being and intelligence. The other organs were preserved separately, with the stomach, liver, lungs, and intestines placed in special boxes or jars today called canopic jars. These were buried with the mummy.

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In ancient Egyptian mummification, the removal of internal organs was an important step in the process of preserving the body for the afterlife. The removal of the internal organs was necessary to prevent the body from decomposing and to make sure that it would remain intact for the journey to the afterlife.

The internal organs, including the brain, were removed through a process called evisceration. The brain was removed through the nose using a hook-like tool, and the internal organs, such as the liver, stomach, lungs, and intestines, were removed through a small incision made in the left side of the abdomen.

The internal organs were then placed in canopic jars, which were small jars that had lids shaped like the heads of four protective deities, called the Four Sons of Horus. Each canopic jar was used to store a specific organ: the liver was placed in the jar with the head of a human or a baboon, the lungs were placed in the jar with the head of a falcon or a hawk, the stomach was placed in the jar with the head of a jackal or a dog, and the intestines were placed in the jar with the head of a baboon or a dog. The canopic jars were then sealed and placed in the tomb alongside the mummy.

By removing the internal organs and placing them in canopic jars, the ancient Egyptians believed that the body would be prepared for the afterlife and the deceased would be able to continue their journey in the afterlife.

User Xph
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