To our valued readers,
This issue of Inside Ancient Egypt is dedicated to one of the hottest topics in archaeology over the last century: the spectacular mummies of the Ancient Egyptian Empire!
To make this information accessible to the everyday reader, we’ve comprised a broad range of data regarding Egyptian mummies that created during the peak of the civilization’s history and preserved thousands upon thousands of years. In order to give these facts meaning, it is important to acknowledge the culture and context under which these bodies were treated and eternalized as mummies. As such, our main focus in this issue will be examining the connection between grave goods found in tombs and accompanying bodies with the Egyptian concept of the afterlife. Questions we aim to answer include: What is the purpose of these grave goods, and what did they represent in regards to one’s physical life and in regards to the afterlife? What, if any, differences exist in these goods as recognised in different classes or time periods? Can we recognise any trends or draw conclusions from this data?
We have done our best to include data that covers the following sub-topics: Social position, location of the site, timeframe of entombment, quality of the tomb (for example: bare, elaborate, hidden, adorned, looted, etc.), prevalence and quality of grave goods, quality of body preservation, and physical materials associated with the body. In addition, where appropriate, we’ve done our best to include background information on individuals, sites, and Ancient Egyptian ritual. This is intended to help our readers gain a better understanding of the “purpose” and significance of mummies, enabling them draw their own conclusions and inspire further research into this fascinating topic!
From all of us at Inside Ancient Egypt, we sincerely hope that you enjoy this issue, and continue to explore history with us in the future.
Keep on digging,
Somya Das
Somya Das, Editor-in-chief