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The ancient Egyptians had many important rituals surrounding death and the afterlife. One of the most well-known practices is mummification. Mummification is the method used to embalm, or treat a dead body, and it was an important part of their religion. The ancient Egyptians believed the body needed to be preserved for the afterlife because it was the home for the person’s spirit or soul.Â
Mummification was a long process with many steps. It took up to 70 days! First, many internal organs (such as the stomach and lungs) would be removed and placed into separate jars. The heart was removed but placed back into the body.
Ancient Egyptians believed the heart was the most important organ. The brain, however, wasn’t so lucky. It was pulled out through the nose and thrown away!
After the organs were removed, the body was dried out using a type of salt called natron. It was then treated with oils, perfumes, and resin to help protect it. Finally, the body was wrapped in linen bandages.Â

Mummy of a woman named Artemidora, A.D. 90–100.
Image credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Want to understand how mummification worked? Try the activity below. You’ll use many of the same steps ancient Egyptians used, but you will mummify an orange!
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How to Mummify an Orange
What You’ll Need
- An orange
- Knife
- Small spoon
- Bowl
- Ground cinnamon
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Paper towels
- A long bandage

Follow These Steps
*Before using a knife, ask an adult first, or ask them to help you*
Cut the orange from top to bottom about halfway through. You want to make a large slit in the orange but don’t cut all the way through it.Â
Use a small spoon to scoop out the inside of the orange. Squeeze any extra juice out.
Place a paper towel inside the orange to dry it out. Leave it inside the orange for 5 minutes, and then replace it with a fresh paper towel. Repeat this until the orange is dry inside.Â
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Sprinkle half a teaspoon of cinnamon inside the orange.
In a bowl, mix together baking soda and salt. You want enough of the mixture to fill your orange. Spoon this mixture into the orange.Â
Now you’re going to wrap your mummy! Take the bandage and begin wrapping it around the orange. Try to wrap it as tightly as you can. Tie a knot at the end to make sure it doesn’t come undone.
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Keep your mummy in a cold dark place for about a month. Just like a real mummy, it should shrink in size and darken in color.Â
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Looking for more history-inspired activities? Check out our kids magazine! In Issue 26 | Gift of the Nile, kids can discover the fascinating history of ancient Egypt. Or go on an adventure to the ancient world with our podcast Anytime Now. Uncover the story of a mysterious boat and learn all about ancient Egypt's second female pharaoh. There’s plenty to explore at Honest History!