1002 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



ornaments lie across the breast and stomach, respectively. The upper 

 one bears the sacred beetle with spread wings, beneath which is a 

 nilometer standing between two figures, which support each a globe 

 upon the head. The faces of these figures are covered with square 

 pieces of gold leaf. At the end of the wings is represented the hawk- 

 head of Iva, also supporting a globe. Over the surface of the shield 

 are painted representations of jewelry. On the lower shield appears a 

 kneeling figure of Nephthys, with extended arms and wings. Upon her 

 head she wears a headband supporting a globe. On either side of the 

 head are two groups, each containing three small figures. Ostrich 

 plumes appear in the corner of the shield. Along the legs is a sheet 

 of cemented linen, on the top of which is a mummy on a dog-shaped 

 bier; at the head of the bier is a figure kneeling, holding an ostrich 

 plume; below this is a group of seven kneeling figures holding plumes. 

 Further down is a second nilometer, on either side of which a figure 

 with an implement in each hand faces two mummied figures, both of 

 which have the faces concealed with a square patch of gold leaf. The 

 feet are incased in a covering of cemented linen. 



The Egyptians conceived man as consisting of at least three parts — 

 the body, the soul, and the Ka, i. e., the double or genius. The Ka 

 was supposed to remain in existence after death, and to be the repre- 

 sentative of the human personality. In order that the Ka might take 

 possession of the body when it pleased, the body had to be preserved 

 from decay. The preservation of the body was accordingly the cLiet 

 end of every Egyptian who wished for everlasting life. To this end 

 the Egyptians mummified their bodies, built indestructible tombs, 

 inscribed the tombs and coffins with magical formulae to repel the 

 attacks of the demons, and placed statutes, household goods, food, 

 statuettes of servants, etc., that the tomb might resemble as much as 

 possible the old home of the deceased.^ The process of mummifying 

 the bodies by various methods of embalming was of high antiquity in 

 Egypt, probably going back to the earliest dynasties; the oldest 

 mummy which was found at Saqqarah in 1881, and is now at the 

 museum of Gizeh, dates from 3200 B. C. This practice is said to have 

 continued to 500 A. D. The art reached the highest point at Thebes 

 during the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties, when spices and 

 aromatic substances were used, and the skin of the bodies so prepared 

 as to retain a slight color and a certain flexibility. What is known of 

 the process is derived chiefly from the Greek writers Herodotus^ and 

 Diodorus Siculus,^ and from examinations of the mummies themselves. 

 According to these sources the Egyptians employed three methods of 

 embalming, of more or less elaborateness, according to the wealth and 

 position of the deceased. The most costly mode is estimated by Diodo- 

 rus at a talent of silver — about $1,250. The embalmers first removed 

 part of the brain through the nostrils by means of an iron hook, 



i Compare Adolf Erman, Life in Ancient Egypt, p. 306. ^Book ii 85. '■> Book i 91. 



