Death & Burial Page
Natron is a salt which was found in large quantities along the edges of lakes and rivers in Egypt. In mummification, the natron crystals were packed around and inside the body. Once the body dried out, no further decay would take place.

(Above) While the body was covered with natron, it was left on a slanted table called an "embalming bed." The slant of the table allowed fluids from the corpse to drip into a container as the corpse dried out.

ODYSSEY HOME NEAR EAST Egypt GREECE ROME

© Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University,
Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester and Dallas Museum of Art
For more information please contact odyssey@emory.edu.
Last Update: