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The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony - A Step-By-Step Guide To Egyptian Mummification For Kids - Part 12 of 12


Welcome to the next part of our Step-By-Step Guide To Egyptian Mummification For Kids. You can find out what's happened so far in our Mummification journey, here.


Opening of the mouth ceremony - step-by-step guide to Egyptian mummification for kids

You've made it! The final step in the long (and rather gross!) Egyptian mummification process. And what a journey it's been. From the first distressing discovery of our dead Pharaoh (nope, I'm not crying anymore, you can't make me!), to ripping out his innards, wrapping him up in linen and shoving him in a tomb surrounded by their most treasured possessions, we've been on quite the roller coaster ride! It's time for step 12:


Opening of the Mouth Ceremony Ancient Egypt hieroglyphs mummification
The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony is performed on the Pharaoh's mummy (right of centre accompanied by Anubis) by two priests (left of centre with white sashes)

Step 12 – The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony


We made it! We’re here! Step 12. The final step before we can all go back to our lives (though this whole process has taken so long, I’m pretty sure I might die of old age soon); the funeral.


Mourners


Because our Pharaoh was utterly loaded with wonga, they can afford some professional mourners at the funeral. That’s right, the Pharaoh paid for a bunch pretend grievers to stand around at the funeral weeping snottily and wailing noisily in their pretend sorrow.


I know. That’s all a bit awkward and weird. But try not to get too distracted because you have one final important task to do before we close up the Pharaoh’s tomb for good; The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony.


The Opening of the Mouth


What?! We have to open the Pharaoh’s mouth?! I could’ve done with knowing that before I wrapped the Pharaoh in a bunch of linen and sealed them inside a poop-tonne of coffins!!


It’s okay. Don’t freak out. Strangely enough, the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony doesn’t involve us actually having to physically open the Pharaoh’s mouth.


Phew!


Ancient Egyptian tomb mummification
Once the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony is complete, the tomb can be sealed. A bit like this gorgeously decorated tomb!

Instead you’ll need to touch various parts of the Pharaoh’s body (such as the mouth, eyes, nose and ears) with some special tools to “open” that part of their body for use in the afterlife. This allows the Pharaoh to use their sense of sight, hearing, smell and taste during their relaxing existence in the Field of Reeds. Plus it means the Pharaoh can talk now too. In the afterlife, that is. Not the dead body. Nobody wants a talking dead body. That would be creepy.


 

That’s it and that’s all! You’re done! We’ll seal up the tomb and go and have a party. Well… You can have a party if you want to. This whole embalming thing has really taken it out of me. I’m going to have lie down…



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