The film describes how Egyptians prepared their dead people, especially those from royal families. The film paints a clear description of the mummies and their preservation in the pyramids after death. It highlights the culture, beliefs, and traditions of ancient Egyptians. It gives an interpretation of Egyptian writings and symbols.
The film also illustrates a discovery of the first royal tomb and its contents in Egypt’s valley. Other features in the film include a history of the half-cat half-man, pyramids’ structural features, construction, and other explorations. The Time Included in the Film The film is set in ancient times of the Egyptian King, Pharaoh. This was a Pre-dynastic age beyond 3000 BC, specifically between 6th and 18th centuries. This was the time when mummies of Tutankhamen, Seti I, and Ramses the Great were made. Aspects of Culture Found in This Film The Art of Mummification The long and expensive process took 70 days.
Dead bodies of people and animals were dried for many days or years. Mummification was believed to be a safe passage to eternity. Pharaohs were believed to become gods after death. A dead body was first washed and purified.
Internal organs were removed through a slit made on the left side of the body, and the cavities were filled with natron (natural salt). Each organ was then dried up with natron. They were separately wrapped in long linen strips. They were placed in canopic jars fashioned after the sons of Horus (individuals believed and entrusted to protect each organ). The body was covered with natron then placed in a slanting embalming table to drain the fluids and dry. After forty days, the natron inside and outside the body was removed.
Another cleansing was done, and body was rubbed with unguents. Unguents aided skin preservation while the head and body cavities were stuffed with packings of rags and sawdust. Open slits were sewn then patched with an illustrated eye of Horus. The mummified body was adorned with gold jewels and protecive amulets on the arms, toes and a final wrap of 20 layers of linen glued together with resin. Religious Practices to the Gods The movie highlights how Egyptians believed in their gods. They performed religious practices before burying the dead in tombs.
The sun was believed to travel from the west to the east during the night in the underworld, called the Ealu-fields. They believed the existence of a river of eternity, where after the “akh” comes to being, it will live again, plough, sow, grow, and reap crops. In the underworld, mummies wrapped and rewrapped themselves during the visit of “Ra” in the sun hours. DressingBoth the living and dead wore amulets designed in shapes of animals, plants, sacred objects, or hieroglyphic symbols. One significant amulet was the Horus eye known as “wedjat” eye. Most of the amulets were used in medicine and recitation of spells.
Egyptians put food, servants, furniture, and games in the tomb. They adorned the tomb walls with paintings of the dead people’s life scenes. How People are Depicted in the Film Egyptians in the film are depicted as significant people. The film is a clear indication of how important the dead people were to the families left behind. Therefore, all aspects of mummification and practices therein demonstrated the depth of their loyalty to rulers and kings.
For instance, mummies in the film were people with remarkable connections, who were simply unforgettable. New Information Discovered Through the Film Egyptian considered the human brain insignificant; thus, it was not preserved. Consequently, they grieved by crying and dusting their hair. Canopic jars had distinct names for each organ (Qebehsenuef: for the intestine with a falcon head, Duamutef: for the stomach with a jackal head, Hapy: for the lungs with a baboon head, and the Imsety: for the liver with a human head).
Shabti figures in the tomb were inscribed in spell. They were to provide food for their masters and mistresses after deathh. Initially, the dead were buried in pits in the deserts. Later, they were buried in coffins that protected them from wild animals. Because of decaying associated with coffins, they applied mummification.
The queen’s chamber inside Khufu’s Great Pyramid had complex architectural shafts whose function is unknown to date. Inside the Great pyramid of Giza (Khufu’s Great Pyramid) might be laying the greatest and oldest Egyptian kingdom of the ancient Khufu King and his administrative chambers within. The Great pyramid of Giza may have been the oldest kingdom’s royal palace. A tribe or clan must have lived in the region before the 18th century A.D.
before a flood swept away two cities, Eastern Canopus and Herakleion. The ground beneath was turned into liquefied mud. Evidence was found on the seafloor of Abu Qir Bay in Egypt. A Review of the Film The film reveals Pharaoh’s culture and his people. The design unfolds in episodes connected with the flow of history of ancient days. The film demonstrates a collective religion, instruments, facilities, jewelers, furniture, medicines, plantation, and Egyptian mode of living.
I liked the film because it avails clear and distinct historical information, which is informative and entertaining. It brings to life the essence and beauty of history and discovery.This assignment was a review of a special approach towards history of ancient Egypt as it developed with time: an informative assignment to benefit history students. It is a foray into the richness of cultural studies. Egyptian traditions carry a great portion of the African culture. It gives a sense of originality of life and its social amenities.
Conclusion Egyptian culture is one of the most noteworthy cultures in the ancient world. Pharaohs had magnificent and royal burial with workshops at the entrance of their tombs. The film best illustrates history to the current generation. The informative film is a revelation that teaches about Egyptian cultural practices as they were in the ancient days.
