Do coffins have eyes?

Yes, many ancient Egyptian coffins have painted or inlaid eyes, known as Wedjat eyes, that served as magical windows for the deceased to see out and observe the world and rituals in the afterlife, allowing them to participate as if they were awake, while modern coffins typically use eye caps to keep real eyes closed.

Why were eyes placed on the side of coffins?

Eyes appear on many Egyptian coffins. It's called a wedjat-eye or the eye of Horus. These eyes were painted on coffins because it was believed they would allow the deceased to see and participate in funerary rituals. They were painted so that when the person was buried they would always face east toward the rising sun.

Are coffins locked when buried?

They're locked using universal keys

And today, much like in ancient times, if people are buried with belongings or valuables, locking the coffin is a way to protect the items inside from would-be grave-robbers or other opportunists.

Are eyes removed during mummification?

They removed the collapsed globes with their dull clouded corneas and replaced them with shells, linens, or painted onions—artificial eyes for the afterlife. Postmortem Egyptian mummy eyes were preserved with natron, a carbonate salt, as a desiccant.

What is the difference between a coffin and a casket?

The main difference is shape: a casket is a rectangular, four-sided box, while a coffin is six-sided, tapered at the head and feet to fit the human body's form (wider at shoulders, narrower at the bottom). Caskets often have hinged, split lids and side handles for carrying, feeling more like furniture, whereas traditional coffins have removable lids and often lack side handles (using 'coffin furniture' for display/transport) and are generally seen as more old-fashioned or basic.
 

ivylife funeral process

Why do they cover the legs in a casket?

Caskets cover the legs primarily for dignity, aesthetics, and practicality, hiding potential swelling or discoloration after death, focusing attention on the face, and accommodating half-couch caskets or organ donation procedures. A blanket or the casket's lid covers the lower half, maintaining a peaceful, unified appearance for loved ones viewing the deceased.
 

Do caskets collapse when buried?

Yes, caskets do collapse when buried, but the timeline varies greatly depending on material, with wooden ones breaking down faster (years) and metal ones lasting much longer (decades/centuries), often requiring burial vaults to prevent immediate soil collapse and sinkholes, which is why cemeteries mandate liners to maintain grave integrity.
 

Are eyes and mouth sewn during embalming?

Your loved ones eyes are closed using glue or plastic eye caps that sit on the eye and hold the eyelid in place. The lower jaw is secured by wires or sewing. Once the jaw is secured the mouth can be manipulated into the desired position.

Is the heart removed during mummification?

No, the heart was usually left inside the body during mummification because the ancient Egyptians considered it the seat of the soul, intellect, and emotions, crucial for the afterlife judgment; other organs like the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines were removed and placed in canopic jars, while the brain was often discarded, but research shows techniques varied, with some mummies having their hearts removed for unknown reasons.
 

Did homosexuality exist in ancient Egypt?

Yes, evidence suggests homosexuality existed in Ancient Egypt, with depictions of intimate male couples (like Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep), mentions in texts, and accounts of same-sex practices, though views varied, sometimes tolerated (especially active male roles) but also frowned upon or viewed through a lens of procreation vs. non-procreation, with some later religious texts associating "acts of Egypt" with debauchery, while certain local customs, like in Siwa Oasis, even had male marriage rituals. 

Can a body feel pain during cremation?

Cremation turns the body of someone who has died into ashes. This is only done after a person has died, so they do not see or feel anything.

Is a body fully dressed in a casket?

Dress the body in clothing the family provides

The deceased's family will typically bring an outfit they want their loved one to be buried or cremated in. The funeral director carefully dresses the body in this clothing. Unlike a living person, dressing a dead body can be complicated.

Do bugs get into caskets?

Yes, bugs can get into caskets, especially older or less-sealed ones, but modern, well-sealed caskets (with rubber gaskets) and vaults significantly slow down insects; however, specialized flies like coffin flies can even burrow through dirt to reach bodies, and eventually, decomposition of the casket material itself allows entry for soil-dwelling organisms. 

Why do they put pennies on the eyes of the dead?

Pennies (or coins) were placed on the eyes of the dead primarily for two reasons: practically, to keep the eyelids shut during wakes, as relaxed eyelids naturally stay open after death, and superstitiously, stemming from ancient Greek and Roman beliefs that the coins paid the ferryman, Charon, for passage across the River Styx to the underworld. This tradition, often called "Charon's obol," served both to close the eyes and provide a symbolic toll for the afterlife journey. 

Why don't we bury people without coffins?

Cemeteries & Burial Regulations

Many traditional cemeteries mandate the use of a casket, even if state laws do not. The reason for this policy is largely practical: caskets and burial vaults help prevent ground collapse, making it easier to maintain the landscape and accommodate future burials.

What happens to the eyes of a deceased person?

After death, the pupils enlarge as the body relaxes and loses oxygen. They will also appear fixed and will not be reactive to light.

What organ was useless in mummification?

First, all of the internal organs would be removed from the body. The heart was wrapped in bandages and put back inside the body as it was thought to be the most important organ. But the brain was removed with a large hook through the nose and thrown away because the Ancient Egyptians thought that it was useless!

Can you still get mummified today?

Yes, you can be mummified today through modern services like Summum, a Utah-based non-profit, which offers mummification for people and pets, though the process is different from ancient Egyptian methods and can cost tens of thousands of dollars, requiring pre-planning and arrangements through a funeral home. While traditional mummification isn't common, modern embalming (preservation) is still widely used, and unintentional mummification can even occur naturally in specific environmental conditions. 

Which pharaoh married his own daughter?

Yes, some pharaohs in ancient Egypt did marry their daughters, a practice that was part of royal incest (father-daughter, brother-sister) to consolidate power, maintain pure bloodlines, and emulate divine models like Osiris and Isis, though it was generally restricted to royalty and not commoners. Notable examples include Ramesses II, who married his daughters Bintanath and Meritamen, and Amenhotep III, who married his daughters. 

Has anyone ever woken up during embalming?

It sounds impossible, but it's happened more than once. In this new video, I'm diving into real stories of people who were pronounced dead too soon… only to wake up on the embalming table or moments before burial.

Why is the tongue removed during autopsy?

The tongue isn't always removed in an autopsy, but when it is, it's often part of examining the neck/throat for trauma (like strangulation or neck injuries), checking for hidden issues (tumors, infections), or when it's removed with other organs (heart, lungs, esophagus) for easier dissection to find the cause of death, especially in cases of suspected poisoning or disease affecting the upper digestive tract. Pathologists also look at tongue changes (like protrusion or cellular shifts) to help estimate time since death (postmortem interval) or identify decomposition stages. 

What is removed from the body during embalming?

Modern embalming now consists primarily of removing all blood and gases from the body and inserting a disinfecting fluid.

Do rats get in caskets?

If your casket is metal things get a little tricker. Rats can and do chew through soft metals like aluminum, copper, or gold, but most caskets are covered in stainless steel which is too tough for rats to get through. If your body is surrounded by a hard enough metal, or by stone, you're probably safe from rats.

What body parts don't burn in cremation?

During cremation, bones and the enamel of teeth are the parts that don't fully burn away, as soft tissues combust and vaporize; what's left are these bone fragments, which are then processed into the fine "ashes" or cremains, along with any non-combustible items like metallic implants.
 

What happens to cemeteries after 200 years?

After 200 years, cemeteries face changes from physical decay (weathered stones, settling ground), ownership shifts, potential repurposing (if neglected or desirable land), or preservation efforts (becoming historic sites or green spaces) with outcomes depending heavily on local laws, maintenance funding, and the original burial practices (e.g., vaults vs. simple shrouds). While some plots are reserved "in perpetuity," many older ones see headstones topple, graves get reused (especially in Europe), or the land transitions to natural habitats, with volunteer efforts often key to uncovering lost histories.