The migrations of early culture: A study of the significance of the geographical distribution of the practice of mummification as evidence of the migrations of peoples and the spread of certain customs and beliefsSmith, Grafton Elliot
History
The migrations of early culture: A study of the significance of the geographical distribution of the practice of mummification as evidence of the migrations of peoples and the spread of certain customs and beliefs
Smith, Grafton Elliot
Ethnology; Human beings -- Migrations; Mummies
At a later period “the triumph of a Theban family brought with it the
supremacy of Amon.... His essential character and individuality had
already been obliterated by the solar theology of the Middle Kingdom,
when he had become Amon-Re, and with some attributes borrowed from
his ithyphallic neighbour, Min of Coptos, he now rose to a unique and
supreme position of unprecedented splendour” (=6=, p. 248). Thus there
was added to this “heliolithic” complex of ideas the definitely phallic
element: but one must confess that this aspect of the culture did not
become obtrusive until it was planted in alien lands, where among the
Phœnicians and the peoples of India the phallic aspect became more
strongly emphasised. From time to time various writers have striven to
demonstrate a phallic motive in almost every element of the culture now
under consideration. What I want to make clear is that it was a late
addition, which was relatively insignificant in the original home of the
culture.
After this digression I must now return to the further consideration of
the mummies themselves.
Direct examination of the mummified bodies does not, of course, afford
any certain evidence of the application of oil or fat to the surface of
the body. Large quantities of fatty material were often found in the
mouth and the body cavity (=78=; =81= and =86=); and the surface of the
body was often greasy; but, of course, the fatty materials in the skin
itself might have afforded a sufficient explanation of this. Dr. Alan
Gardiner, however, tells me that ancient Egyptian literature contains
repeated references to the process of anointing the body with “oil of
cedar,”[10] and great stress is laid upon this procedure as an essential
element of the technique of embalming.[11]
Thus in the time of the decadence of the New Empire an Egyptian writer
laments the loosening of Egypt’s hold on the Lebanons, because if no “oil
of cedar” were obtainable it might become impossible any longer to embalm
the dead.
Diodorus Siculus, writing many centuries later, says the body was
“anointed with oil of cedar and other things for thirty days, and
afterwards with myrrh, cinnamon, and other such like matters” (Pettigrew,
=56=, p. 62). Thus there can be little doubt that it was an essential
part of the Ancient Egyptian technique to anoint the body with oil.
Pettigrew (=56=, p. 62, and also p. 242) adduces cogent reasons in proof
of the fact that the Egyptians (and in modern times the Capuchins, at
Palermo) made use of heat to desiccate the body, probably in a stove.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account