Ancient Egypt

: Religion: Afterlife:

Egyptian Funerals and Tombs

Funeral Funeral procession - picture from Ani's tomb
  • Servants carrying home furnishings, other Servants are dragging a chest on which Anubis is sitting,
  • Inside the chest is more of the deceased worldly possessions and his canopic jars. All of these objects will be placed in the tomb for his use in the afterlife
  • In front of them are eight male mourners dressed in white. Ani's mummy rides on a funerary boat which is being drawn by oxen.
  • The goddess Isis and Nephthys are shown in this scene protecting the dead.
  • Ani's wife mourns at his side.
  • The man wearing a leopard skin and turned back towards Ani's mummy is a priest he is burning incense.
  • The cow and calf are food offerings that will be used for the Funeral festival.
    • entrance to tomb Entrance to Tomb
  • In the shown Egyptian papyrus, the deceased's mummy stands before the entrance of his tomb, in the protective embrace of Anubis.
  • The two women family members are patting dirt on their heads, this was a sign of mourning.
  • Behind them are three priest wearing the leopard skin (a sign of ancient priesthood). One of them burns incense and presents offerings of food and drink,
  • The other two are about to perform the important ceremony of "opening of the mouth". This ceremony was thought to restore the mummy's ability to see, breathe, eat and drink.
  • The coffin was afterwards lowered down the grave shaft to the secret chamber in which had been placed the image of the dead, his weapons and clothing, his ornaments and perfumes.
  • Then the entrance was closed up with stonework, and a ritual feast in the antechamber concluded the ceremony.
  • Food offerings were afterwards brought at intervals by faithful mourners.

    Royal Tombs

  • Old Kingdom - Mastabas and Old Kingdom pyramids
  • Middle Kingdom - Beni Hasan and Middle Kingdom pyramids
  • New Kingdom - Valley of the Kings


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