480 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XVI. 



sented tlie curving top of the ordinary Egyptian 

 canopy. 



The stone cases, usually called sarcophagi, were 

 of oblong shape, having flat straight sides, like a 

 box, with a curved or pointed lid. Sometimes the 

 figure of the deceased was represented upon the 

 latter in relief*, and some were in the form of a 

 king's name, or royal oval. Others were made in 

 the shape of the mummied body, whether of basalt, 

 granite, slate, or limestone, specimens of which are 

 met with in the British Museum and other collec- 

 tions. 1 have even seen one of this formt, found 

 during my stay at Thebes, of a red earthenware, 

 very similar to our tiles, made in two pieces sewed 

 together, small holes having been made in the clay 

 before it was burnt for this purpose. The upper 

 part was broken off, but it was evidently a con- 

 tinuation of the human figure in the form of the 

 mummy it contained. 



It is unnecessary to examine in detail all the 

 various substances used in embalming, as they have 

 been already indicated by Mr. Pettigrew. t With 

 regard to the question when the custom of em- 

 balming the body ceased in Egypt, it may be ob- 

 served that some are of opinion that it ceased at 

 an early time, when Egypt became a Roman j)ro- 

 vince. But this^has been fully disproved by mo- 

 dern discoveries ; and it not only appears that the 



* As tlmt of the Queen of Amasis at the British Museum. I Iiave 

 seen a fij^furc raised nine inches in reHef, and cut in granite, on the sar- 

 copluif^us of one of the kings at Tiiebes. 



-|- /'/V/r Woodcut, No. 504., fig. 10. t Chap. vi. 



