What was the role of the pollinctor in ancient Egyptian funerary practices?

The role of the pollinctor in ancient Egyptian funerary practices primarily involved the process of embalming the deceased. Embalmers, known as pollinctores, were specialized practitioners responsible for the preparation of the body for burial, which included removing internal organs, treating the body with various substances to prevent decay, and wrapping it in linen. This process was critical in ancient Egyptian society, where the preservation of the body was believed to be essential for the deceased's journey in the afterlife.

The embalming process not only involved physical preparation but also imbued the body with religious significance, as it was believed the deceased would require their body intact in the afterlife. This underscores the vital role of the pollinctor in ensuring that the burial rites were properly performed, aligning with the cultural and religious beliefs of the time regarding life after death and the importance of a well-preserved body.

In contrast, while priests played essential roles in rituals and spiritual rites, and scribes recorded information and maintained documentation, it was the pollinctor who specifically managed the bodily preparations associated with death and burial, foundational in the funerary practices of ancient Egypt. Architects were involved in the construction of tombs and other structures, but their role was separate from the actual handling