Ep 2. Quest for Eternity
- October 16, 2011
In episode 2 of Season 1 of "Temples, Tombs and Mummies" titled "Quest for Eternity," the show delves deeper into the ancient beliefs of Egyptians and their obsession with attaining eternal life. The episode explores how Egyptians tried to preserve their bodies and souls for the journey to the afterlife.
The host takes us through the great Pyramids of Giza, where he explains how the Pharaohs believed they would ascend to the heavens and join the other gods. They thought that their physical body should be preserved to enter the afterlife. Usually, they buried their mummified body in an ornate sarcophagus kept in a burial chamber filled with all their belongings.
The episode shows us how Egyptians mummified their dead. It explains how the brain was scooped out of the skull and how every organ except the heart was removed from the body. The brain and organs were preserved in jars, and the body was packed with salt to remove the moisture. Later the body was wrapped in linen bandages and put in a magnificent coffin before being placed in tombs.
The host of the show also takes us to the Valley of the Kings, where the Pharaohs were buried from the New Kingdom period. The tombs were intricate and spacious with colorful decorations lining the walls. These tombs held all the Pharaohs' valuable treasures, including jewelry, furniture, and other significant artifacts.
The episode also explores the journey of the soul in the afterlife according to the Egyptian mythology. It explains how the soul would pass through various trials and tribulations before reaching the afterlife. Sometimes a dead person's journey was helped by some texts inscribed on walls—the most famous of these texts being the "Book of the Dead."
The episode takes us to Saqqara, one of the oldest burial sites in Egypt, where we see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the oldest known pyramid built in the Third Dynasty. The pyramid underwent several phases of construction, with modern architects closely integrating with ancient Egyptian architects to restore and preserve the historic monument.
Finally, the episode discusses how the mummification process was phased out over time. With the onset of Christianity, burials became simpler as they began to believe that the soul would be resurrected in the afterlife.
Overall, the episode takes the viewers on a journey through Egypt's history to give insight into their religious beliefs and the lengths they went to ensure eternal life. The show provides a fascinating insight into the Egyptian civilization and provides an in-depth analysis of the mummification process and the journey of the soul. Anyone with an interest in history will find this episode fascinating and informative.