The Egyptians believed that the next life had to be provided for
in every detail and, as a result, tombs were decorated with depictions
of the deceased at his funerary meal, activities of the estate and
countryside, and the abundant offerings necessary to sustain the spirit.
Many surviving Egyptian works of art were created to be placed in the tombs of officials and their families.
Through the ritual of "opening the mouth," a statue of the deceased (known as a "ka statue") was thought to
become a living repository of a person's spirit. Wall paintings, reliefs, and models depict pleasurable
pastimes and occupations of daily life. Always these images have deeper meanings of magical protection,
sustenance, and rebirth. The mummy was surrounded with magic spells, amulets, and representations of
protective deities.
Coffin of a Middle Kingdom official
At the near end of the coffin a
goddess stands, her arms raised
protectively. The hieroglyphic
inscriptions are magical requests
for offerings and protection. Small
magical amulets made of
semiprecious stones or faience
were placed within the linen
wrappings of the mummy. Many of
them were hieroglyphic signs.
For Egyptians, the cycles of human life, rebirth, and afterlife mirrored the reproductive cycles that surrounded them
in the natural world. After death, the Egyptians looked forward to continuing their daily lives as an invisible spirit
among their descendents on Earth in Egypt, enjoying all the pleasures of life with none of its pain or hardships. This
vision is vividly depicted in the sculptures, reliefs, and wall paintings of Egyptian tombs, with the deceased portrayed
in the way he or she wished to remain forever accompanied by images of family and servants. These forms of art
not only reflect the Egyptians' love of life but also by their very presence made the afterlife a reality.
This is a tomb painting from the tomb of a man named Menna.
The Egyptians believed that the pleasures of life could be made permanent through scenes like this one of Menna
hunting in the Nile marshes. In this painting Menna, the largest figure, is shown twice. He is spear fishing on the right
and flinging throwing sticks at birds on the left. His wife, the second-largest figure, and his daughter and son are
with him. By their gestures they assist him and express their affection. The son on the left is drawing attention with
a pointed finger to the two little predators (a cat and an ichneumon) that are about to steal the birds' eggs. Pointed
fingers were a magical gesture for averting evil in ancient Egypt, and the attack on the nest may well be a reminder
of the vulnerability of life. Overall, scenes of life in the marshes, which were depicted in many New Kingdom tombs,
also had a deeper meaning. The Nile marshes growing out of the fertile mud of the river and the abundant wildlife
supported by that environment symbolized rejuvenation and eternal life.
The figures in Menna's family are ordered within two horizontal rows, or registers, and face toward the center in nearly identical groups that fit
within a triangular shape.
MUMMIES AND COFFINS
The mummy was placed in a
brightly painted wooden
coffin. The elaborate
decoration on
Nes-mut-aat-neru's coffin fits
her status as a member of the
aristocracy. A central band
contains symbols of rebirth
flanked by panels featuring
images of god and goddesses.
Look for the central panel
that shows the winged scarab
beetle hovering protectively
over the mummy (probably
meant to represent the
mummy of the
Nes-mut-aat-neru herself).
The large white pillar painted
on the back of the coffin
forms a "backbone." This
provides symbolic support
for the mummy and displays
an inscription detailing
Nes-mut-aat-neru's ancestry
Next the mummy and coffin were
placed in another wooden coffin.
Like the first coffin, it is in the
shape of the mummy but more
simply decorated.
Girl in A.C., 18/03: I need stuff on what the afterlife was like and what it looked like because im doing a project on egypt!
ruthielean, 15/12: wow this is very good
KeWlNeSs, 22/11: any hottness here?
a boy
eygpt, 08/09: this is a go site
tay, 26/05: Hi. I'm helping my bro with a research project on "nest of mummies".
What is this? A bunch of mummies together or one mummy in many layers of protection?
alotatt8s, 23/03: Mint website got it in my favs
reanna3327, 25/02: ok i thin that i jus got on this website by accident
pricapatoti, 13/02: dis wabsite is awesome
Katie, 03/02: Thanks!!!! This really helped for my project.
someone, 10/01: not enough pictures about the afterlife
all education, 18/12: good information it helped alot....
YAY me , 11/12: that was good info
ugly retart, 02/12: used the info 4 a project
Nikki, 05/11: Hey im 11 doing a project for school this has no information that i would use
Sage, 27/10: I am 9 and I would love to Know more about Cleopara
hiccup chicky babe, 23/10: hello????? who's there. lolz who wants to try bein lockd in a coffin 4 awilez??? soundz like fun! lol love you all, sose lesson's finished =)
hiccup chick =), 23/10: site's ok. love the sweet pix. totally kwl man!
spamman, 20/09: i am a marhathgj
jean1, 23/06: hey guys whats up is any one on??
hellooo22, 12/06: guys are you on? this is keybra
sarah, 01/05: i love this website i go on it evry day i think this web site helps littlel kids (not me iM 19)
Sara, 17/04: Hello,I am 9 years old and I love Egyptian article and I read about
yours and I love it. I would like you to send me more information
thank you.
Bye-by
MITCHden, 12/03: Sup i am tha coolest in the world
james , 12/03: hello im james lolz as you can see haha catch you up bye.ma friens says hi.
buddalishes, 19/02: wul dis iz zo nice 2 no but gotta go love yall!! 3
*, 06/02: bye yall ttyl talk some other time
bow chica wont wow WOAH=D
crazy girl, 06/02: well sorry guess i got to go ill try to get on tonite or tomorow one ttyl and then maybe one of yall will talk to me (love)
. awsome i guess (love)
CamDrak96, 12/01: good information
candy gurl21, 08/01: wow dose mummies coffins look so freakin awesome dude i love it
JOHN SMITH, 11/11: yA MUM IS A MUMMY
candy, 28/10: i lov mummies they r so coolio and i want one at the club
Rachel, 02/09: very good site!!!
bob and jane, 13/08: this is a very different website!!!
i hope it helps youguys because it sure helped me
Holly, 25/06: i think that this website is extreamly helpfull for little children !!
Nebsauria, 23/06: Straight to the point & catches the eye. If reader is truly interested will do further research themselves.
issues..., 19/06: this site has helped me so much with my homework.i just wish the voices agreed...
TPTR_13 , 13/05: I think this story was very educational and Im not one to like it but know that I read this story it has inspired me to look farther in to eygptian art and its a very good article it cought my eye and it was amazing...
Hannah, 16/04: I wish they had more about burial masks, but this is a pretty good website.
natalie, 24/03: this is the third website i have seen which has exactly the same imformation. Who does this imformation belong too? i need more on masks.
StEzZa st peters high AUSTRALIA!!!, 18/03: omfg this iz so madd i hav a lill obsesion wit death n yeh hahaha bit wierd but ok...I love JAKE M-P 4 EVA!! love yew huni!! xoxo mwa
Little dude went mad, 16/03: someone plz talk to me
boob girl, 08/03: i love ken tones
cookie, 08/03: i love f**king women
elementary my dear, 21/02: Get a life, my young child
Crystal Sharp from lake oswego high school, 21/02: I love mummies! They r so cool and interesting. my mom is my mommy! lol
elementary my dear, 20/02: I concur with your thesis
Jakie, 06/01: who ever put happy face needs to get it off there b/c that is NOT kool that is MINE and my FRIEND'S thing not yours!!
hhhhh, 11/12: ijhheui rye8uryfhewuf
Bakiko, 28/11: I need infromation about how they made burial masks!
big dog, 13/11: hi what do you mean
bunny, 04/11: ok its weird get some more info
Katie, 17/10: Hi!!!! Ilove this website and it gives some good info,but it needs more about why they needed coffins and why they usedthem!!!!!
sandy, 14/10: hey this website gave me all the info i needed
Te\' (Te\'je), 10/10: oh ,i tak tha bak theres not enough info on this website fo me. THANKS 4 NOTIN'!!!!
Te\'je, 10/10: this site really helped me thanks i might get a A 4 this
Chad, 19/09: Very nice really helped
cdecauthor, 13/09: Why doesn't any website have pictures of tomb paintings of the afterlife?
bumfluf4eva, 08/08: kwl site!! not there wasnt any masks
owea!
^j^j^j^j^ angels, 07/05: ancient egyptians should have learned.... tsk,tsk!
coolies , 07/05: not enough info or pictures. sorry )/:
Mary, 10/03: This page was very informative about the Egyptian Afterlife. I think I will print this amazing page and show it to my friend, Karen.
Kiwi Kawasaki, 16/02: New Zealand Rocks My Fluro Pink Socks!!!!
MEOW, 23/01: my name is joe and i farted
PAMMELLAA(:, 04/12: veryy interestinngg. LOLS! need moree info thhoughh but i love tha pics (:
haley r, 23/11: you need more information on your images ie whho what where by who?
gert, 01/10: dhez es a raly good webzte i lve it
but it neadz for informaion a bout ta afterlife?
he he lol
!?!?!