Mummification

Egyptians believed that the body had to be intact and preserved in order to gain entrance to the Netherworld.   Humans, as well as animals, were mummified with great care.  In ancient Egypt, hundreds of yards of linen were used to carefully wrap a mummy.  The exact arrangement of the rolls and shrouds of linen varied a lot from period to period and can be helpful in dating mummies.  Protective amulets and sometimes the deceased person’s jewelry were placed between the layers of linen.  At the same time, the linen was constantly brushed with a sticky, liquid resin.  This glued the bandages together and made them slowly stiffen as they dried.  Approximately 15 days were set aside for the wrapping and the whole process was accompanied by much prayer and ritual.  The embalmed bodies of the dead were wrapped for protection before they were deposited into coffins called sarcophagi, which were usually made of wood.
This wrapping, made of layers of linen or papyrus, stiffened with gesso (plaster) and then painted with bright multi-colored decoration that carried symbolic significance is called “cartonnage.”  These cartonnage pieces were used for covering the head and the torso, the most significant elements of the cartonnage in that they protected the most vital areas of the deceased’s body.
Mummification was an important aspect of the ancient Egyptian religion.  During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods in Egypt, the custom of leaving mummified animals as votive offerings in cult sanctuaries became extremely in vogue.  At the same time, the art of decorative wrappings ascended new heights, with intricate designs being incorporated into linen folds.  Mummified animals were purchased from temple priests and left by petitioners who wished special favors from a God.