Pyramids were the final resting place for ancient pharaohs.
To the ancient Egyptians, death was not the end, but rather the beginning of a new existence in the afterlife. Through the process of mummification, rich Egyptians and pharaohs believed they could live forever in the realm of gods and deities. Ancient Egyptians were hesitant to begin their new existence without bringing a few of their possessions with them to the afterlife, however. It was believed that whatever a person was buried with would travel with them into the afterlife. Due to thousands of years of grave robbing, most of what archeologists know of what Egyptians were buried with comes from the untouched tomb of Tutankhamun, known commonly as King Tut, and illustrations drawn on the walls of desecrated tombs.
The Body
The mummification process, and entombment of the body, was designed to facilitate an easy transition for a pharaoh into the afterlife. A face mask, that resembled the pharaoh, would adorn the lid of his sarcophagus so he would be recognized by deities in the afterlife. The sarcophagus was anthropoid in shape, modeled after the pharaoh's own body, done with the intention of providing him a body in the afterlife. The sarcophagus would be decorated with drawings of Horus, the most powerful of the Egyptian gods, four sons and other deities, to provide a ring of protection for the body as it crossed over.
Canopic Jars
As part of the mummification process, the brain, liver, lungs, stomach and intestines would be removed from the body. The heart, which ancient Egyptians believed would be weighed upon entering the afterlife to determine if the person had lived a good life, remained in the body. The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines would each be placed in one of four containers called canopic jars. The jars would then be placed together in a canopic chest, usually found at the foot of the sarcophagus. The mummification process was a complex ritual that would take 70 days to complete, but was thought necessary to insure a pharaoh's place in the afterlife.
Shabti
A pharaoh would need help establishing his new kingdom in the afterlife. If nothing else, someone had to carry all his stuff as he crossed over. To help with this process, pharaohs were buried with shabti figures. Made of stone, faience or wood, shabti were considered magical workers, that would serve a pharaoh in his next life. The pharaoh Sethos' tomb was said to have contained 700 to 1000 shabti figures. Tutankhamun's tomb possessed a paltry 413 by comparison.
Swag
In addition to ceremonial items, a combination of personal and practical items were also buried with the pharaohs so their standard of 'living' would change little. Clothing, shoes, jewels, perfumes, cosmetics, games, musical instruments, writing materials, heirlooms, tableware, pottery, glass and food items, such as preserved meats, grain, fruits as well as wine and beer, would be placed in the tomb for the journey. It's safe to say the expression, "You can't take it with you," did not originate in ancient Egypt.
