Funeral procession

The ancient Egyptian people believed that the human soul used the first night after death to travel into the afterlife. However, the body, which the Egyptians believed was an essential element to the afterlife had to be mummified to preserve it for eternity. The Mummification process took 72 days to perform properly. This was the time to put finishing touches on the tomb and to pack all the deceased's worldly possessions, which surely would be needed in the afterlife.

In the above ancient Funeral procession of Ani, servants carrying home furnishings, other Servants are dragging a chest on which Anubis is sitting, inside the chest is more of the deceased worldly possessions and his canopic jars. All of these objects will be placed in the tomb for his use in the afterlife. In front of them are eight male mourners dressed in white. Ani's mummy rides on a funerary boat which is being drawn by oxen. The goddess Isis and Nephthys are shown in this scene protecting the dead. Ani's wife mourns at his side. The man wearing a leopard skin and turned back towards Ani's mummy is a priest, he is burning incense. The cow and calf are food offerings that will be used for the Funeral festival.