\paperw3690 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 The ancient Egyptians believed that the human being had a material part and a spiritual part. The latter was made up of three componen
ts: the \i ka\i0 , or vital force, the \i ba\i0 , which constituted individuality, and lastly the \i akh\i0 , which existed before the birth of the individual and survived after his death.\par
However, the spirit could only survive in the next world if
the body was preserved as well. This was the reason for the mummification of the dead. It was accompanied by a series of rituals: the priest whose task it was to embalm the body wore a mask with the features of Anubis, the god with a jackalÆs head.\par
The internal organs removed from the body were kept in special containers called Canopic jars, with lids in the shape of a human face. While the mummy was being wrapped a series of ritual formulas were recited and amulets were placed between the bandages
.\par
The deceased was then carried to the tomb by a long funeral procession accompanied by the weeping of mourners.\par
In front of the door of the tomb the ceremony of the opening of the mouth was staged: this was supposed to magically restore life t
o the corpse.\par
At this point the mummy could be deposited in its sarcophagus, decorated with magical formulas. \i The Book of the Dead\i0 , a sort of handbook of the afterlife, was placed alongside it.\par
