DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5475#0081
VARIOUS FIGURES IN WAX, &C.
57
close to the opening which was ahvays made at
the left side of the body.
The mummies of this quality have two cases*
besides a sarcophagus of wood covered with
painted figures and hieroglyphics. The swathings
of these mummies are very fine and very clean,
and they are unrolled with great ease, so as even
to lay bare the epidermis of the corpse. In the
bandages are found, in the first place, the Scara-
bsei, placed on the chest; and beneath these, or
rather between the legs of the corpse, is a papyrus,
in such good condition and so white that it
may be unrolled without difficulty or danger: the
writing on it is hieroglyphical, with coloured
figures. Above the lid of the first case is an idol
of black wood, with its pedestal, which represents
Osiris. In this idol, which opens at the back, is
found a papyrus, much better preserved than the
other papyrus found on the mummy itself. Those
who have not had much experience in these
matters would scarcely believe the existence of
so beautiful an article as these papyri, and there-
fore it is that the black idols are so highly
esteemed by those who are aware of their contents.
I shall here relate by what chance the Egyptians
of the present day became acquainted with this,
57
close to the opening which was ahvays made at
the left side of the body.
The mummies of this quality have two cases*
besides a sarcophagus of wood covered with
painted figures and hieroglyphics. The swathings
of these mummies are very fine and very clean,
and they are unrolled with great ease, so as even
to lay bare the epidermis of the corpse. In the
bandages are found, in the first place, the Scara-
bsei, placed on the chest; and beneath these, or
rather between the legs of the corpse, is a papyrus,
in such good condition and so white that it
may be unrolled without difficulty or danger: the
writing on it is hieroglyphical, with coloured
figures. Above the lid of the first case is an idol
of black wood, with its pedestal, which represents
Osiris. In this idol, which opens at the back, is
found a papyrus, much better preserved than the
other papyrus found on the mummy itself. Those
who have not had much experience in these
matters would scarcely believe the existence of
so beautiful an article as these papyri, and there-
fore it is that the black idols are so highly
esteemed by those who are aware of their contents.
I shall here relate by what chance the Egyptians
of the present day became acquainted with this,