The body was then placed on a slanted embalming table and completely covered with natron.This allowedfluids to drip away as the body slowly dried out.This part of the process took about forty days,after which the natron was removed,inside and out,to reveal a dried and shrunken body.After another cleaning,the body was rubbed with unguents to aid in preserving the mummy\\u0027s skin.The head and body cavity were stuffed with packing.
The mummy was then prepared for bandaging.First,the embalming cut in the side of the body was sewn up and covered with a patching depicting the protective[1]eye of Horus.The body was adorned with gold,jewels and protective amulets.Fingers and toes were covered with protective gold caps and individually wrapped with long,narrow strips of linen.Arms and legs were also wrapped,and then the entire body was wrapped to a depth of about twenty layers.The embalmers used resin to glue the layers of wrappings together.The wrapped head was covered with a mummy mask.Finally,the last layer of bandages went on and was given one last coating of resin.The mummy was the ready for burial.
Once the mummy was finally prepared,it was time for the funeral.The mummy and its canopic jars were transported by sled from the embalming tent to the tomb.People were hired to demonstrate their grief by crying and throwing dust on their hair.At the site of the tomb,religious ceremonies were held to prepare the dead for the afterlife.
在古埃及，木乃伊的製作是一個非常漫長和昂貴的過程。從開始製作木乃伊到完成需要耗費70天。
由於埃及人認為隻有成為木乃伊以後才可以通往來世，所以人們盡他們最大的能力來使屍體在木乃伊化的情況下埋葬。所以侍奉法老和皇後的高級官員、牧師和其他貴族自然可以享受隆重的葬禮，也就是可以被精心製成木乃伊。
埃及人相信法老死後會變成神，因此法老的木乃伊製作也是最精細的。如果皇族或貴族要舉行葬禮，製作木乃伊的工匠就會在墓穴附近搭建作坊。製作木乃伊的手藝主要分成幾個步驟。首先要清洗屍體，並且儀式性的淨化屍體。然後要把身體裏的髒器取出，在身體的左側劃開一刀，從這個縫隙中將人的腸、肝、胃和肺部取出，用泡堿使這些器官脫水變幹，以阻止細菌的生存從而不會腐蝕以後要包裹的紡織品。這些器官將分別用長條的亞麻包裹起來，放在罐子裏，罐子的蓋子上會有荷魯斯四個兒子的圖案，每一個都負責保護一種髒器。把髒器移出之後，人腦也要被掏出，方法是用一個長長的鉤子從鼻孔進入，將腦子全部掏出來。由於古埃及人認為腦不重要，所以取出以後就直接扔掉了。
接下來把屍體放在一個傾斜的台子上，用泡堿完全覆蓋，使其慢慢脫水變幹，這個過程可能要40天的時間。之後將泡堿除掉，這時候屍體的裏麵和外麵都已經幹燥，呈現幹枯萎縮的狀態，再次清潔以後，在屍體表麵抹上厚厚的藥膏，以保護皮膚，然後把空的體腔和頭腔都用東西填滿，這樣就可以準備用繃帶包紮了。
首先，要把身體左側刀口縫合，用繪有荷魯斯之眼的補丁來覆蓋，然後把屍體用金銀珠寶和護身符裝飾起來。每一個手指和腳趾都分別用金子包裹，並且用長條的亞麻包紮好。胳膊和腿也包紮好以後，再把整個身體層層包紮，大概要纏二十層，最後用鬆香把它們粘合。纏好的頭部要用一個木乃伊麵具覆蓋。最後一層的繃帶用鬆香粘好，這樣木乃伊就製作完畢了。
木乃伊製作完畢後，就可以舉行葬禮了。木乃伊和裝有髒器的罐子會用類似雪橇的工具從製作間運送到墓穴中。這個時候，會有很多人，用哭泣和往頭發上揚灰的方式來表達悲痛。之後要在墓穴中舉行宗教儀式，讓死者為來世做好準備。
[1]protective adj.保護的，防護的
5.The Curse of Tutankhamen 圖坦卡門的詛咒
Tutankhamen was the 12th pharaoh of ancient Egypt\\u0027s 18th dynasty,and he took over the wand of baton sun god Amun in 1361 BC and was entitled the pharaoh\\u0027s throne only at his nine-year-old.
Tutankhamen was well known for the rich and fine funerary goods when excavating and the consequent mysterious story-Pharaoh\\u0027s curse.
On November 26，1923，the British archaeologist Carter,Mr.Von and his excavation team found the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamen.There was plenty of treasure,and two tall statues guarded this hall,on their back,there was warning words said：I am a guardian of the King Tutankhamen,and l use the desertfire to expel the ghoul.
Carter did not care this words and kept on diging.
On morning of February 27，1923，a cobra went into Carter\\u0027s house and took his lucky bird-the Canary hanged.It was said that cobra is the guardian of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh and it is not a good sign.
The jubilant Carter was not deterred by this snake,his did not stop.A few days later,the chamber of Pharaoh\\u0027s tombs was opened,but no one concerned about a small inscription on a tablet in front of the room.lt was the second fearing curse：“who disturbed the pharaoh\\u0027s sleep,death will open their wings and fell on his head.”
In this clean-up after the excavation,Carter found two more curses warning people to give up the grave,but Carter and Carnarvon did not care.
At this time,a mosquito bitted the face of Lord Carnarvon.The small wound almost made Carnarvon extremely frightened and he were sick with a high fever,teeth also started to fall one by one.In Early March,Carnarvon\\u0027s neck swelled and got pneumonia.
In late March,Carnarvon had the high fever of 40 degrees which lasted for 12 days.The doctor said that Earl was infected by a wound which was cut when shaving.But he could not explain why Earl got such a high fever and kept on murmuring：“I heard his voice,I want to go with him.”
Then,at 2：00 am of April 5，the whole Cairo suddenly powered off,the city sank into the dark night like 3000 years ago.
The 57-year-old Lord Carnarvon died quietly.At the same time,his dog in the UK also died.
But this did not deter Carter\\u0027s curiosity,he insisted on opening sarcophagus.
There was a golden mask forged in accordance with the shape of the human body at the innermost of Tutankhamen\\u0027s coffin.A vivid gold mask came into sight when opened the last one luxury coffin and it covered the mummy\\u0027s face
Although this pair of gold masks had existed for more than 3，000 years,they were still so brilliant that as if can see through the depths of the soul of grave robbers.
In order to get the jeweler on the body of the mummy,Grave robber Carter and his fellow Douglas who was a doctor cut the mummy into 3 pieces rudely.In the process of cutting,doctor Delhi had a startling discovery-there is a wound because of ulcer on the left cheek of the mummy which was corresponded with the location of the fatal mosquito bited on Carnarvon.
In the next few years,several ten people who had connection with Tutankhamun died suddenly one by one.There were diggers,visitors and also researchers among of them.
For a time,the statement about the“Curse of the Pharaoh”caused a sensation in the world.
However,what is the truth?The scientists and amateurs have been pursuing all the time.
There are several explanations,the first explanation is viruses and fungi,the second explanation is poison,and the third explanation is that the radiation,the fourth possible explanation is psychological pressure.
圖坦卡門是古埃及十八王朝的第十二位法老，他於公元前1361年接過太陽神阿波羅的權杖，年僅九歲就登上了法老的寶座。
圖坦卡門廣為人知，其原因是他被發掘時保存有豐富、完好的陪葬品和隨之而來的神秘的故事——法老的詛咒。
1923年11月26日，英國考古學家卡特、卡那馮伯爵與他們的發掘隊發現了圖坦卡門法老的陵墓。裏麵堆放著大量的財寶，並且有兩座高大的雕像把守著這座大廳，他們的背後，寫著第一個警告：我是圖坦卡門國王的守衛者，我用沙漠之火驅逐盜墓賊。
卡特沒有把這句話放在眼裏，他繼續挖掘。
1923年2月27日淩晨，一條眼鏡蛇遊進了卡特的住宅，將它的幸運鳥金絲雀絞死了。傳說眼鏡蛇是古埃及法老的守護者，這可不是個好兆頭。
但興高采烈的卡特並沒有被這條蛇給嚇住，他沒有停手。幾天後，法老陵墓的內室被打開，但誰也沒有在意內室前方一塊小小的碑記。那是第二條令人恐懼的詛咒：“誰擾亂了法老的安眠，死神將張開翅膀降臨在他的頭上。”
在此之後的清理發掘中，卡特又發現兩條詛咒，警告不敬的人放棄這座陵墓，然而卡特和卡那馮都毫不在意。
就在這時，一隻蚊子在卡那馮伯爵的臉上叮了一口。這一小口似乎使得卡那馮受到了極度的驚嚇，他病倒了，發起了高燒，牙齒也陸續脫落。三月初，卡那馮脖子腫脹，得了肺炎。
三月下旬，卡那馮的高燒直升到40度，而且持續了十二天。據醫生說，是伯爵在刮胡子的時候割破了一個傷口造成了感染。但是他解釋不了，為什麼發著高燒的伯爵一直不停的呼叫：“我聽見他的聲音，我要隨他去了。”
然後，就是4月5日的淩晨2點，突然整個開羅都停了電，這座城市陷入了如同3千年前一樣的黑暗夜晚。
一片靜寂中，57歲的卡那馮伯爵去世了。與此同時，他遠在英國的愛犬也猝死。
但是這並沒有阻嚇卡特的好奇心，他堅持開啟石棺。
圖坦卡門棺材最裏麵的一具居然是按照人體的形狀用純金打造成的。打開這最後的豪華棺，映入眼簾的是一幅栩栩如生的黃金麵具，它覆蓋在木乃伊的麵部。
這副金麵具，經曆3千餘年，仍然灼灼逼人的黑色眼睛，仿佛要一直看進盜墓者的靈魂深處。
盜墓者卡特為了要得到緊貼在木乃伊身上的珠寶，和一位名叫道格拉斯·德裏的醫生居然將保存得那麼完好的法老木乃伊切割成3塊，而且手法粗糙。就在切割的過程中，德裏醫生也同時有了個驚人的發現：木乃伊的左邊臉頰上，有一個生前潰瘍形成的傷口——與卡那馮伯爵受蚊子叮咬的傷口在同一位置。
在往後的幾年間，有數十位跟圖坦卡蒙扯上關係的人，先後猝然死去。其中有發掘者，還有參觀者以及研究人員。
一時間，關於“法老的詛咒”之說，轟動了世界。
然而，真相到底是什麼，科學家和愛好者卻一直在不斷的追尋。
現在有好幾種解釋，第一種是病毒和真菌，第二種是毒藥，第三種是放射線的輻射，第四種可能是心理壓力。
What Is the Truth Behind the Mummy\\u0027s Curse?都是法老王詛咒搞的鬼？
For over a century,tales of Egyptian mummies seeking revenge over them who disturbed tombs have excited the curiosity of people around the world.However,according to British archaeologist Dominic Montserrat,curses that protect the remains of ancient Egyptians are simply an invention of storywriters.
Montserrat has found that the idea of a curse was created 180 years ago by novelist Jane Loudon.In 1821，Loudon got the idea for a horror novel while watching an exhibition of mummies being unwrapped in London.Her novel featured in a mummy coming back to life and seeking revenge against an archaeologist.
During the late 1860s,the vengeful mummy idea evolved into the concept of the mummy\\u0027s curse,which was made popular by several American and British novelists.Another author,Marie Corelli,issued a warning after the discovery of King Tutankhamen\\u0027s（King Tut）tomb that anyone who dared enter would be severely punished.
Stories of mummy curses were widespread in the early 20th century.Some journalists even said that the Titanic sank in 1912 because an ancient Egyptian coffin was on board.Later,in 1923，the discovery of King Tut\\u0027s tomb added new life to the legend.The unexpected death of Lord Carnarvon,who led the exploration of the tomb,propelled the curse story onto the front pages of newspapers around the world.
According to Dominic Montserrat,however,there was nothing unusual about Carnarvon\\u0027s death,since he was in poor health anyway.Moreover,almost all the 26 members of the exploration team were still alive ten years later.So what the curse is！
100多年來，埃及木乃伊向盜墓者報複的傳說激起了全世界人的好奇心。然而根據英國考古學家多米尼克·蒙瑟雷特的說法，保護古埃及人遺骸的詛咒隻是小說家的一個構想。
蒙瑟雷特發現這種詛咒的構想是小說家簡·勞敦在180年前創作的。1821年當勞敦在倫敦觀看一個解開木乃伊裹布的展示時，便想到用這個構思來寫恐怖小說。她的小說表現了一個木乃伊複活並向考古學家複仇的故事。
19世紀60年代末，木乃伊複仇的構想演變成為木乃伊詛咒的觀念，並在被許多英美小說家采用後，已蔚然成風。在埃及圖坦卡門王（塔特王）的陵墓被發現後，另一位作家瑪麗·柯瑞裏發出警告：擅闖者將嚴懲不怠。
20世紀初木乃伊詛咒的故事廣為流傳。一些新聞記者甚至說，1912年泰坦尼克號的沉沒是因為船上放置了一副古埃及棺木。之後1923年塔特王陵墓的出土也為此傳說注入了新生命。接踵而來的挖掘陵墓的卡爾那馮伯爵的猝死，更將此詛咒傳說推上全球報紙的頭版。
然而根據多米尼克·蒙瑟雷特的說法，卡爾那馮的死並無異常之處，因為他的健康狀況一直欠佳。而且10年後勘探隊的26名成員幾乎都還健在。這算什麼詛咒！