Ramesses II: Embalming Process

Ramesses II was a grand and worshipped Pharaoh who's people of Egypt wanted to make sure his soul would live on for eternity in the underworld. To ensure the Pharaoh's safe journey, his body was embalmed or mummified. First, the brain was removed using a long hook that was inserted through his nasal cavity. After the brain was completely removed, they filled his nasal cavity with peppercorns, seeds, and even small animal bones to retain the unique structure of Ramesses II's nose (2011). This is said to have been an unusual process because few mummies show evidence of this kind of treatment. It explains why Ramesses II's mummy was one of the few with such a distinctive profile. The majority of mummy's noses are flattened by the tight wrappings around their face, but the filling in Ramesses II's nasal cavity protected it from such destruction (Fitzgerald, 2009). 

The embalmers then individually wrapped his toes, fingers, arms and legs which shows fine attention to detail and precision. Once every part of his body was wrapped, they placed the Book of the Dead between his hands (Fitzgerald, 2009). This is a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts from various periods, containing prayers, magic formulas, and hymns to be used by the soul of the deceased for guidance and protection on its journey to the afterlife. More linen strips were wrapped around his body and then he was enveloped in a second layer that was soaked in resin and sweet smelling oils that helped preserve the skin. Amulets were placed in between the linen layers that were said to protect the body on it's way to the underworld. Finally, Ramesses II's body was draped in a white cloth and the embalmers carefully painted an image of Osiris (the Egyptian God of the underworld) on the outside of the wrappings as a finishing touch (Fitzgerald, 2009). Although the embalmers are thought to have taken great caution with his body during the mummification, some researchers believe there is evidence of carelessness. 

 The embalmers had allegedly removed Ramesses II's heart by accident which is the main holder of intelligence of the individual, and is crucial for the journey into the underworld. To correct this mistake, they had to sew the organ back inside his body (Fitzgerald, 2009). Radiographs of the body, thousands of years later, also showed evidence of a postmortem fracture on his cervical spine (Feldtkeller et al., 2002). Researchers believe this was a purposeful fracture to straighten out the neck before the embalming process (Feldtkeller et al., 2002), but could have also been an accidental break while the body was being prepared.