CHAP. XVI. EMBALMING. 451 



drink of heaven * ; which calls to mind the am- 

 brosia and nectar of Greek fable, t 



EMBALMING. 



The process of embalming is thus described by 

 ancient writers : — " In Egypt," says Herodotus t , 

 *' certain persons are appointed by law to exercise 

 this art as their peculiar business ; and when a 

 dead body is brought them they produce patterns 

 of mummies in wood, imitated in painting, the 

 most elaborate of which are said to be of him 

 (Osiris) whose name I do not think it right to 

 mention on this occasion. The second which 

 they show is simpler and less costly ; and the 

 third is the cheapest. Having exhibited them all, 

 they inquire of the persons who have applied to 

 them which mode they wish to be adopted; and this 

 being settled, and the price agreed upon, the par- 

 ties retire, leaving the body with the embalmers. 



In preparing it according to the first method, 

 they commence by extracting the brain from the 

 nostrils by a curved iron probe, partly cleansing 

 the head by these means, and partly by pouring 

 in certain drugs ; then making an incision in 

 the side with a sharp Ethiopian stone, they draw 

 out the intestines through the aperture. Having 



* Vide supra, Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 313. 391. 



-|- Some suppose the former to have been eaten, the latter drunk. 

 Hesiod (Theog. 640.) says, 



" NtK-rtp r'rt/-(C|00(T()Jl' TCy TCI TTfp 6(01 ClVTOl f^OVCTl. 



Though Homer (Od. Y, 359.) calls the wine "a stream' of ambrosia and 

 nectar." 



X Herodot. ii. 8G. 



G G 2 



