Tomb robberies was looked at as the worst sin an Egyptian could commit.
Since they destroyed the body and took their articles; they stole his chances of a happy afterlife which was the most important thing.
Priest laid curses on tomb robbers at first and when that did not deter them they put the body deep inside the pyramid or rocks. The entrance was blocked and sealed.
Despite of all the effort the temptation was too much and tomb robbing was a common crime along the Nile. They left the seal untouched and borrowed into the tombs.
They threw the mummies out of the coffin and torn off the wrapping to steal the valuable jewellery which were concealed there.
Kings and Nobles of the New Kingdom (1570-332 BC) were buried in the remote rocky Valley of the Kings near Thebes. It was hoped their tombs would be safe there.
According to history, tomb robbery is not a new crime but they were plundered between 1200 and 1000 BC. Priests had to take action and hid 36 Royal mummies deep in a cliff and another 13 in the grave of Amenophis. They were discovered only in the 19th centuries.
The only tomb to remain untouched was that of Tutankhamun
Mummification
Ir is a long and complicated process.
1) Take the body to the embalming house.
2) Soften the brain in a secret chemical ad then draw it out through the nose.
3) Make a slit in the corpse's side and remove the internal organs. Dry, wrap in linen and store in jars - one each for the intestines. The lids of the jars were carvings of the four sons of Honus.
4) Leave the heart - the seat of the intellect and emotions - in place because it will be needed at the judgement.
5) Stuff the inside of the body with sawdust, leaves and linen.
6) Put natron - a salt found in deserts - around it and leave for 40 days.
7) Wash the natron off and remove the stuffing. Anoint the body with sweet smelling oils, Re-stuff it with linen soaked in resin.
8) Wrap the corpse tightly in linen bandages. Place small charms and amulets between bandage layers to guard against evil in the next world. Recite prayers and spells continuously for about 30 days.
9) Place bandaged corpse in one of or several painted and decorated mummy cases.
Pyramid Workers
To start with rough blocks of stone from the quarries had to be finely measured and cut by highly skilled masons.
Every stone was marked to make sure it went to the right spot on the pyramid. The final shaping was done just before the stone was pushed into position.
Apart from masons there were others skilled workers on the site; surveyors; carpenters and metalworkers who made and sharpened tools needed for construction work.
Teams of labourers used sledges, rollers, levers and thick fibre ropes to get blocks of raw stone to the site of the pyramid construction.
Egypt is a land of striking contrast. Most of the country is barren dessert through which the mighty River Nile flows. In ancient times, towns flourished along the river and Egypt was one of the richest countries in the world.
Egypt could never have grown rich and powerful without the Nile. Each year the floods bring water to the land which does not have a lot of rain. The floods also bring fertile soil on which crops are grown.
Some 7000 years ago the annual flood attracted settlers from far and wide. These farmers grew rich and laid the foundation to one of the earliest an richest civilisation.
The ancient farmers grew onions, peas, lettuces and cucumbers. Flax for making cloth, wheat for bread and barley for beer.
They kept oxen, cows, sheep, goats and pigs, fished the river and hunted for wildfowl and animals along the river.
Small settlements started to flourish along the Nile. Around 4000 BC there were two powerful Egyptian States. The Lower Egypt occupied around the Nile Delta. Upper Egypt lay to the south. It took till 3100 BC for King Menes from Upper Egypt to conquered Lower Egypt and united the country.
Menes and the following kings were known as pharaohs. The name derived from the great palaces called in Egyptian languages per-ao. Memes made his capital at Memphis, near Caro. He founded the first of 30 dynasties that ruled the country for 3000 years.
Every picture tells a story
The Egyptians made pictures to tell words but this hieroglyphic script was difficult to master. Only a special class of Royal servants, called scribes, learned to write. Starting at nine years old, a pupil had to train hard for five years and was whipped if he did not study well. A qualified scribe paid no taxes and was exempt from military service which was compulsory.
Many scribes were also artists. They painted pictures on and in houses, monuments and palaces. The pictures show of Egyptians hunting for birds, dining on wines, cakes and dates, relaxing by a pool and dancing to the music of flutes and harps. Also about their daily life.
Therefore, we have a great knowledge today about Egyptians' live.
The fashion of fashion
Egyptian men and women were very fashion conscious. They adorned themselves with jewellery, scented flowers and colourful cosmetics. Both men and women worn green eye paint made from powered malachite, a copper ore, rouge and lipstick.
On excavation there were found many items proving that how much appearance mattered to the Egyptians. items like ivory combs, tweezers, hair curlers, pots of face cream made from goose fat, polished bronze mirrors and wigs made from human hairs inserted into beeswax.
Jewellery was very important. Gold from mines along the Red Sea was used to make necklaces, ear studs, bracelets, rings and hair ornaments.
People were very superstitious and worn gold charms and amulets to ward off danger and bring good luck. A little gold fish saves from drowning, and a gold cowrie seashells were worn by people wanting children.
Life after death
The Egyptians were very religious. Their gods played an active part in their lives and they believed that there was life after death.
They believed that the dead person made a journey to the next world and lived the same sort of life there. Therefore they were buried with everything they might need, including food and drink.
Wealthy people were embalmed and more efforts was made to ensure that kings would live in splendour ever after.
In 2630 BC the first pyramid was built as the burial place of a pharaoh.
