Mummies might sound like something out of a spooky story, but they’re actually a fascinating part of history! Ancient people, especially in Egypt, used special techniques to preserve bodies for thousands of years. These mummies were carefully wrapped and buried with treasures to help them in the afterlife. But how were they made, and why were they so important? Get ready to explore the ancient world as we dive into 10 incredible facts about mummies that will leave you amazed!

1. Mummies were made to last forever.

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death, and they thought that preserving a person’s body would help their soul live forever.

This is why they carefully mummified their dead – so the body would last for eternity!

2. Mummification took a long time.

The process of mummifying a body wasn’t quick!

It could take around 70 days to prepare a body for burial.

The ancient Egyptians used special techniques to dry out the body, remove organs, and wrap it up in layers of cloth to keep it from decaying.

3. Organs were stored in special jars.

When Egyptians mummified someone, they removed the organs and placed them in jars.

These jars had lids shaped like different gods to protect the organs.

The brain was often removed too, but surprisingly, the heart was usually left inside the body!

Discover more in Science Weekly!

4. Not just Egyptians made mummies.

While Egyptian mummies are the most famous, other cultures around the world also made mummies.

The Chinchorro people in South America were creating mummies over 2,000 years before the Egyptians!

Some natural mummies have even been found in frozen places like the Andes mountains and deserts.

5. Mummies were buried with their belongings.

Ancient Egyptians believed people would need their favourite things in the afterlife, so mummies were buried with everything from clothes and jewellery to food and games.

Pharaohs, who were the rulers of Egypt, were buried with treasures to use in the next world.

6. Mummy wrapping took hundreds of yards of linen.

To wrap a mummy, the Egyptians used hundreds of yards of linen strips – sometimes up to 375 yards!

That’s as long as three football fields!

These strips were soaked in resin to help keep them stiff and secure.

7. Some mummies had curses on their tombs.

Many people believed that tombs were protected by curses to keep robbers away.

The most famous mummy curse is from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, where stories of mysterious deaths after its discovery in 1922 sparked rumours of a “mummy’s curse.”

However, scientists say these stories were just myths!

Learn about Ancient Egypt here!

8. King Tut was the most famous mummy.

One of the most famous mummies is King Tutankhamun, or King Tut.

His tomb was discovered nearly untouched in 1922, filled with incredible treasures.

King Tut became famous worldwide, even though he became pharaoh at a very young age and didn’t rule for long.

9. Animals were mummified too.

Egyptians didn’t just mummify humans – they also mummified animals!

Cats, dogs, birds, and even crocodiles were sometimes made into mummies.

These animal mummies were often placed in tombs to accompany their owners or offered as gifts to the gods.

10. Mummies are thousands of years old.

Many Egyptian mummies are over 3,000 years old!

Scientists study these ancient mummies to learn more about how people lived long ago, what they ate, and even what diseases they had.

It’s like opening a time capsule from the past!