In ancient Egyptian civilisation, mummification was a method asopted to preserve the bodies of the dead. This was reserved for important people such as the Pharoahs. The idea to preseve the bodies was stemmed from the belief that, this would ensure their eternal survival. Organs like liver, lungs and brain were removed and stored in special jars while the heart was kept intact, so that it could be judged in the afterlife. The English word ‘mummy’ comes from the Latin term ‘mumia’ meaning ‘bitumen’ (blackened skin of unwrapped mummies).
