In Ancient Egypt, after death and before being buried in its tomb, the mummy of the deceased had to undergo a complex ceremony to help it regain its senses through magic and thus enjoy a full life in the afterlife. The ceremony of the opening of the mouth (as it is known in its abbreviated form), a ritual that has been recorded since ancient times, was not exclusive to royalty, but was performed on the mummy of any deceased person in order to ensure the full recovery of all his senses (speech, sight and hearing) for his afterlife. Thus, this ceremony was a confirmation that death was not the end, but the beginning of a new life that would last forever.