386 



THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XVI. 



No. 495. Pouring oil over a mummy — The priest 

 (fig. 1.) has a napkhion his shoulder. Fig. 2. holds 

 a papyrus. The mode of placing the napkin is 

 remarkable, being the same as now adopted in the 

 East by servants whi" 

 hands before meals. 



with cakes, flowers, and fruit ; and even anointed 

 the mummy, oil or ointment being poured* over its 



head.t Sometimes se- 

 veral priests attended. 

 One carried a nap- 

 kin over his shoulder, 

 to be used after the 

 anointing of the mum- 

 my ; another brought 

 a papyrus roll con- 

 taining a prayer, or 

 the usual ritual de- 



remarkable, Demg tne same as now auopiea HI me •, j • ^^ j U 



East by servants while guests are washing their pOSlteCl lU tlie tOmUS 



with the dead ; and 

 others had different occupations according to their 

 respective offices. They were not of the order of 

 Pontiffs; but an inferior grade of priests, deputed 

 to perform similar duties in lieu of the high priest, 

 who, as already stated, officiated only at the burial, 

 or on other important occasions. 



Single oblations of various kinds were made to 

 the mummies by individuals of the family, as well 

 as by the priests ; but many of the ceremonies, as 

 well as the emblematic offerings, were of a singular 

 kind, the meaning of which it is difficult to com- 

 prehend. Onel^ of these last has the appearance of 

 some kind of instrument. It occurs in tiie names 

 of several kings in the sense of " cho.seji^,'* or ** ap- 



* Conf. 2 Kings/ix. 3. " Take a box of oil and pour on his head." 



f Vide Woodcuts, No. 494, 495. 



^ Vide supra, p. 35G. note ; and Plate 85. where it is held before a 

 mummy. 



^ As in that of Remescs the (»rcat, where it occurs as " the chosen 

 of the Sun." 



