Egyptian funeral

What was the Book of the Dead's primary purpose?

• To record the deceased's family lineage

• To guide the soul through the underworld

• To document the mummification process

• To provide a map to hidden tombs

Answer explanation

The Book of the Dead was a collection of spells, prayers, and instructions designed to help the deceased navigate the challenges of the afterlife, including judgment and the journey to the Field of Reeds.

In the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony, what was the heart weighed against?

• A gold coin

• The Book of the Dead

• The feather of Ma’at

• A sacred scale of Osiris

Answer explanation

The feather of Ma’at symbolized truth and justice. If the heart was lighter than the feather, the deceased was deemed virtuous and allowed to enter the afterlife. A heavier heart led to the soul being devoured by Ammit, a fearsome creature.

Which organ was typically left in the body during mummification?

• The brain

• The liver

• The stomach

• The heart

Answer explanation

The Egyptians believed the heart was the center of intelligence, emotion, and morality. It was left in the body so it could be weighed during the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. The brain, on the other hand, was removed and discarded.

What was the role of the canopic jars in Egyptian funerals?

• To store the heart for judgment

• To preserve the body from decay

• To hold the deceased’s internal organs

• To provide offerings to the Ka

Answer explanation

Canopic jars were used to store the stomach, intestines, lungs, and liver. Each jar was associated with one of the Four Sons of Horus, who were believed to protect the organs for the afterlife.

Which of the following best describes the Ka in Egyptian belief?

• The personality of the deceased

• The life force that needed offerings to survive

• The transformed spirit in the afterlife

• The physical body of the deceased

Answer explanation

The Ka represented the life force or vital essence of a person. It remained with the body after death and needed sustenance, provided through food and drink offerings, to continue its existence in the afterlife.

What was Anubis primarily responsible for in Egyptian funerary practices?

• Guiding the deceased through the judgment process

• Overseeing mummification and protecting tombs

• Transporting the Ba to the afterlife

• Weighing the feather of Ma’at

Answer explanation

Anubis, the jackal-headed god, was associated with death and mummification. He guided the dead, protected their tombs, and ensured the proper rites were performed to prepare the soul for the afterlife.

Why were funerary masks placed over the mummy’s face?

• To frighten tomb robbers

• To ensure the deceased's identity was recognized in the afterlife

• To serve as a symbol of wealth and status

• To provide protection from curses

Answer explanation

Funerary masks, like the iconic mask of Tutankhamun, were intended to help the soul recognize its body and preserve the deceased's identity in the afterlife. They often depicted idealized features to represent the eternal, divine nature of the individual.

How did the funeral mourning process in Egyptian funerals typically begin?

• A silent prayer by the priests

• Loud mourning by female relatives and hired mourners

• A royal decree announcing the death

• • A procession to the tomb led by Anubis priests

Answer explanation

Female relatives and hired mourners would begin the funeral with loud mourning and public displays of grief. They often bared their breasts as a sign of deep sorrow, while male relatives would express their grief by pounding their chests.

What happened during the procession to the embalmers in an Egyptian funeral?

• The body was carried by servants to the tomb

• Priests performed the Opening of the Mouth ceremony

• • The body was transported from the home to the embalmers in a composed procession

• • Goods for the afterlife were placed in the tomb

Answer explanation

After the initial mourning, the body was transported from the home to the embalmers in a composed procession. Family members and servants would accompany the body to ensure the proper preparations for mummification.

During the final procession to the tomb, how was the mummy typically transported?

• Placed inside a chariot

• On a sledge pulled by oxen

• • Transported on a golden litter carried by servants

• • Carried by the priests on a ceremonial platform

Answer explanation

In the final procession, the mummy was placed on a sledge pulled by oxen. Another sledge carried the canopic jars that held the preserved internal organs, continuing the careful and ritualized process of burial.