In the =second method= of embalming, the viscerae were removed by means of oil of cedar, and the flesh was dissolved off the bones by a preparation of soda; mummies which were prepared by this process consist of nothing but skin and bone. The =third method= was used almost exclusively for the poor; the body was steeped in a preparation of soda for a period of seventy days, and then handed over to the relatives for burial. The period which elapsed between death and burial varied in length. From the inscriptions we learn that in one case the embalming lasted 16 days, the swathing in linen 35 days, and the burial 70 days, _i.e._, 121 days in all. In another, the embalming occupied 66 days, the preparations for burial 4 days, and the burial 26 days, in all 96 days. According to the Bible (Genesis l, 3), the embalming of Jacob occupied 40 days, but the period of mourning was 70 days. Certain stelae in the British Museum[24] mention 70 days, and we may assume that this period was commonly observed, at all events, in Graeco-Roman times. =Cost of embalming.=—According to Diodorus, who lived about B.C. 40, the methods of embalming were three in number; the first cost one talent of silver, about £250; the second, twenty minae, about £60; and the third very little indeed. In the description of the first method given both by Herodotus and Diodorus, it is said that the intestines were removed from the body previous to embalming, but neither writer says what was done with them afterwards. We know, however, that they were cleansed, and wrapped in linen with powdered spices, salt, etc., and placed in a series of four jars, or vases, to which modern writers have given the name =Canopic Jars=. They were thus named by the early Egyptologists, who believed that in them they saw some confirmation of the legend handed down by certain ancient writers to the effect that Canopus, the pilot of Menelaus, who is said to have been buried at Canopus, in Egypt, was worshipped there under the form of a jar with small feet, a thin neck, a swollen body, and a round back. Each “Canopic” jar was dedicated to one of the =four sons of Horus=, or sons of Osiris, who were also the gods of the =four cardinal points=; and each jar was provided with a lid made in the shape of the head of the deity to whom it was dedicated. The names of the four gods were:— 1. =Mesthȧ= 𓅓𓋴𓍘𓇋𓀭, or ȦMSET 𓇋𓅓𓋴𓏏𓀭; he was man-headed. 2. =Ḥāpi= 𓐑𓊪𓇌𓀭; he was dog-headed. 3. =Ṭuamutef= 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓐰𓆑𓀭; he was jackal-headed. 4. =Qebḥsennuf= 𓈎𓃀𓎛𓏁𓈗𓌣𓌣𓌣𓆑𓀭; he was hawk-headed.