The heart was the only organ that the Egyptians left intact because this is where they believed the seat of intelligence and emotion was and the man would need it in the afterlife.
After removing the internal organs, they were washed with frankincense, myrrh and palm wine. Then the organs were dried by using natron. Once the internal organs were removed, the abdominal and thoracic cavities were rinsed using palm wine and myrrh. The body was packed and covered with natron, and left to dry out. .
After forty days the body was washed again with water from the Nile. Then it is covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic. The body was then stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that the body would look life-like.
Finally the body was covered again with good-smelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen. After being individually preserved, the organs were stored in a special canister called The Canopic Jars of Mumab I. The lids of canopic jars were shaped like the heads of Egyptian gods, the four sons of Horus. They are the guardians of the entrails. The canopic jars with their contents would be placed in the tomb with the mummy The Four Sons of Horus: Imset (guardian of the liver), Duamutef(Stomach),Qebehsenuf (Intestines), Ha'py(lungs ). The body had been cleaned, dried and rubbed with good-smelling oils and was ready to be wrapped in linen. .
The second step to mummification is the wrapping and burial of the body. .
First the head and neck were wrapped with strips of fine linen. Each strip of linen had in scripted ancient hieroglyphics. Then the fingers and the toes were individually wrapped. The arms and legs were wrapped separately. Between the layers of wrapping, the embalmers place amulets to protect the body in its journey through the underworld. These amulets were small trinkets or charms meant to protect the body from evil spells or actions. The "Isis knot' amulet was meant to protect the body.
