DOI Artikel:
Smith, Grafton Elliot: A contribution to the study of mummification in Egypt: with special reference to the measures adopted during the time of the 21st dynasty for moulding the form of the body
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11325#0032
to retain the packing in position. I have never found any mate-
rial other than mud or sand used for packing the thighs, although
small quantities o£ sawdust may be mixed with the earthy
packing. When the neck and legs had been packed in the
manner just described the body cavity could then, in most cases,
be packed. It occasionally happened, however, that the embalmer,
his hand placed in the body cavity, separated (probably with
a knife) the muscular tissue from the abdominal margin of
the thoracic wall and through the opening thus made forced
pièces of linen or pebbly sand between the skin and the chest wall.
I have observed this only in the cases of two female mummies in
which the breasts (mammae) were packed in this manner (Pl.YIII,
figure 1). The stuffing was in other cases done in an entirely différent
manner to be presently described. The thighs were invariably
packed by the route described above, that is, from the abdominal
cavity ; and in most cases the calves of the leg were moulded by
pushing material downward from the thighs (figures 1 and 2).
But occasionally other means are adopted for the treatment of the
lower part of the leg. In some cases an incision had been made
behind the knee (figure 1, C, also Pl. Y, figure 2 4 and Pl.VI,
figure 2) and masses of linen (or, in other cases, mud). had been
pushed downward toward the ankle and also upward toward the
thigh. It sometimes happens that the packing material pushed
up from the knee occupies a différent muscular compartment to
that packed from above and the two separate masses overlap.
In other cases incisions are made lower down : sometimes on the
posterior aspect either just above the ankle (figure 1, d) or midway
between ankle and knee, at other times on the inner side of the
ankle (figure 3, k and Pl. XI, figure 1). From thèse openings not
only was the calf of the leg distended but also the dorsum of the
foot, the instep (see figure 1, P), the région around the heel and
even the sole of the foot. In two cases I have seen crescentic
rial other than mud or sand used for packing the thighs, although
small quantities o£ sawdust may be mixed with the earthy
packing. When the neck and legs had been packed in the
manner just described the body cavity could then, in most cases,
be packed. It occasionally happened, however, that the embalmer,
his hand placed in the body cavity, separated (probably with
a knife) the muscular tissue from the abdominal margin of
the thoracic wall and through the opening thus made forced
pièces of linen or pebbly sand between the skin and the chest wall.
I have observed this only in the cases of two female mummies in
which the breasts (mammae) were packed in this manner (Pl.YIII,
figure 1). The stuffing was in other cases done in an entirely différent
manner to be presently described. The thighs were invariably
packed by the route described above, that is, from the abdominal
cavity ; and in most cases the calves of the leg were moulded by
pushing material downward from the thighs (figures 1 and 2).
But occasionally other means are adopted for the treatment of the
lower part of the leg. In some cases an incision had been made
behind the knee (figure 1, C, also Pl. Y, figure 2 4 and Pl.VI,
figure 2) and masses of linen (or, in other cases, mud). had been
pushed downward toward the ankle and also upward toward the
thigh. It sometimes happens that the packing material pushed
up from the knee occupies a différent muscular compartment to
that packed from above and the two separate masses overlap.
In other cases incisions are made lower down : sometimes on the
posterior aspect either just above the ankle (figure 1, d) or midway
between ankle and knee, at other times on the inner side of the
ankle (figure 3, k and Pl. XI, figure 1). From thèse openings not
only was the calf of the leg distended but also the dorsum of the
foot, the instep (see figure 1, P), the région around the heel and
even the sole of the foot. In two cases I have seen crescentic