The Kings of Kemet would have their arms crossed during death when they were mummified. Their arms and sometimes the actually wrappings themselves were shaped in the image of a cross or “X.” African centered historian Ashra Kwesi and others believe that the crossed arms or “X” means resurrection. The Kings were getting ready to be resurrected for their return in the afterlife.

The crossed arms are very similar to the ritual of baptism but the Egyptian origins for the crossed arms is so much older than baptism. Kemetic Usr-Maat-Ra Setep-en-Ra Ra-messu- Meri-Amun had his arms crossed forming the “X” for resurrection in the afterlife. The arms are crossed as a result of the symbols of power, the hook and the flail.

The hook, which is not unlike the sheperds hook is both literal and figurative as we see in later religions like Christianity.

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