CHAP. XVI. DIFFERENT MODES OF EMBALMING. 453 



side, in a state of dissolution. The nation also 

 dissolves the flesh ; so that nothing remains but 

 the skin and bones. This process being over, they 

 restore the body without any further operation. 



" The third kind of embalming is only adoj)tcd 

 for the poor. In this they merely cleanse the body 

 by an injection o{ mjrmcea^ and salt it during seventy 

 days; after which it is returned to the friends who 

 brought it. 



"The bodies of women of quality are not em- 

 balmed directly after their death *, and it is cus- 

 tomary for the family to keep them three or four 

 days before they are subjected to that process." 



The account given by Diodorust is similar to 

 that of the historian of Halicarnassus. '* The fu- 

 nerals of the Egyptians are conducted upon three 

 different scales, — the most expensive, the more 

 moderate, and the humblest. The first is said to 

 cost a talent of silver (about 250/. sterling) ; the 

 second 22 minae (or 60/.); and the third is ex- 

 trem.ely cheap. The persons who embalm the 

 bodies are artists who have learnt this secret from 

 their ancestors. They present to the friends of 

 the deceased who apply to them an estimate of 

 the funeral expenses, and ask them in what manner 

 they wish it to be performed; which being agreed 

 upon, they deliver the body to the proper persons 



* Herodotus says, " Tag ^£ yurat/crt^ rwv nri(pai'noi> avCfXiiv, nziuv Tt- 

 XiVTjjaioffi, ov TTupavriKa I'lCovai rapixtviiv, ov^e oaat av loat tviiittg Knpra 

 Kcii Xoyoy TrXtvvoc yi'vaiceij. AXX eTreav Tpiraiai )] rirapTCiiai ycvuivrat, ovno 

 Tfapuhcovai tokjl -api)(^evovin. rovroCi ttohvul nvru) rovct uptKiv, iva fiij (j<pi 

 oi Tapi\tvTai iiiffyoji'Tai ryai yvvai'£i. Xai^'ipOijvai yap riva (paffi^fiiffyoftd'ov 

 viKp'iJ Tipo(T<paT(fj yvvaiKoc. KaTtnvaiCi tov ojioTi^vov. 



t Diodor. i.' 9 1 . ' 



G G 3 



