Step 1: the body

During this step, the dead body is washed with good smelling palm wine and water from the Nile. Step 2: Removing the internal organs

A cut is made on the left side of the body to remove the organs. The organs are washed and stuffed with natron, a special salt that would dry them out. Fun fact about Step 2: The heart was not removed because Ancient Egyptians believed it was the center of intelligence and feelings.

Meanwhile, the was pulled out through the nose using a long hook. Dead serious. Step 3: Covering the body in natron

The body itself is then covered in natron to dry out. Step 4: Washing the body

After 40 days of drying out, the body is then washed with water from the Nile and oils to keep it looking realistic. Step 5: Stuffing the body

Remember those dried out organs? They’re back. In fact they’re covered in and stuffed back into the body along with sawdust, leaves, and more linen. Step 6: Wrapping the body

And that’s a wrap! The body is wrapped in linen while a priest reads spells aloud from an Egyptian . Step 7: Opening of the Mouth

Oops, almost forgot this mouthful. The Opening of the Mouth ceremony is performed that allows the dead to eat and drink in the after life. Step 8: Stored in a sarcophagus

Lastly, the is stored in a large, decorated, stone sarcophagus inside a .