History Ancient Egypt Questions
The major burial customs and beliefs in Ancient Egypt revolved around the belief in the afterlife and the preservation of the body. Egyptians believed that the soul continued to live after death and that the body needed to be preserved for the soul to recognize and inhabit it. The process of mummification was developed to preserve the body, involving the removal of organs, drying the body with natron, and wrapping it in linen bandages. The deceased were often buried with personal belongings, food, and other items they might need in the afterlife. Pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs and their families, while commoners were buried in simpler tombs or in the desert. The Book of the Dead, a collection of spells and prayers, was placed in tombs to guide the deceased through the afterlife.