Ancient Egyptians believed death marked the beginning of a journey to eternal life.

A successful passage—the hope of every Egyptian—required that the mummified body be placed in a well-equipped tomb, decorated with prayers and images to guide the deceased on the difficult path ahead. If all went well, the deceased would become a spirit in the Green Fields of eternity, while the soul joined the gods as a star in the sky and the mummy lived on in the tomb forever.
Thanks to the remarkable technology of ancient Egypt, many mummies still exist. Modern science is helping us unlock their secrets and learn more about how the Egyptians lived and died

http://www.mnh.si.edu/exhibits/eternal-lif...