DOI article:
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 Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11325#0053
— 43 —
The mention o£ the openings for the body cavity and for the
back is quite in conformity with my findings. M. Fouquet's
difficulty in explaining the référence to an opening for the back
in the Rhind papyrus has been disposed of in the preceding
pages.
The référence to the "seven openings of the head " in the
Rhind papyrus can only mean the ears, eyes, nostrils and mouth.
Dr. Fouquet's attempt to explain this quotation by enumerating
the " ablation " of the eyes, incisions in the floor of the mouth
for stuffing the neck, slits at the angles of the mouth and perfo-
ration of the ethmoid is quite futile, because the eyes were not
removed nor incised in any way, nor was the mucous membrane
of the month eut, for the packing was introduced into the neck
through the body cavity and not from the mouth.
Revillout's translation of the Rhind papyrus contains a référence
to " quatre [ouvertures] à la poitrine " where in Brugsch's ren-
dering we find "die vier Horuskinder." The meaning of this is
not altogether clear. No spécial openings or incisions were made
for the four Genii who were the " children of Horus " : and, on
the other hand, many openings are found in différent mummies
in or around the chest. There are ( 1 ) the opening from the thorax
into the neck; (2) the two openings sometimes made to pack the
breasts from the abdominal cavity or from the flank wound; (3)
the tunnels "made from the shoulder-incisions for packing the
pectoral régions and (4) the stuffing of the back. Perhaps the open-
ing of the thorax (by cutting through the diaphragm) is included.
If so, this would explain the référence to the models of the chil-
dren of Horus, which were put in the thorax.
In the Rhind Papyrus it is stated that eight incisions were
made " in the thirty six days " and afterwards nine more were
made to complète the prescribed seventeen. It is impossible, even
if we were to admit that this Ptolemaic account had any référence
The mention o£ the openings for the body cavity and for the
back is quite in conformity with my findings. M. Fouquet's
difficulty in explaining the référence to an opening for the back
in the Rhind papyrus has been disposed of in the preceding
pages.
The référence to the "seven openings of the head " in the
Rhind papyrus can only mean the ears, eyes, nostrils and mouth.
Dr. Fouquet's attempt to explain this quotation by enumerating
the " ablation " of the eyes, incisions in the floor of the mouth
for stuffing the neck, slits at the angles of the mouth and perfo-
ration of the ethmoid is quite futile, because the eyes were not
removed nor incised in any way, nor was the mucous membrane
of the month eut, for the packing was introduced into the neck
through the body cavity and not from the mouth.
Revillout's translation of the Rhind papyrus contains a référence
to " quatre [ouvertures] à la poitrine " where in Brugsch's ren-
dering we find "die vier Horuskinder." The meaning of this is
not altogether clear. No spécial openings or incisions were made
for the four Genii who were the " children of Horus " : and, on
the other hand, many openings are found in différent mummies
in or around the chest. There are ( 1 ) the opening from the thorax
into the neck; (2) the two openings sometimes made to pack the
breasts from the abdominal cavity or from the flank wound; (3)
the tunnels "made from the shoulder-incisions for packing the
pectoral régions and (4) the stuffing of the back. Perhaps the open-
ing of the thorax (by cutting through the diaphragm) is included.
If so, this would explain the référence to the models of the chil-
dren of Horus, which were put in the thorax.
In the Rhind Papyrus it is stated that eight incisions were
made " in the thirty six days " and afterwards nine more were
made to complète the prescribed seventeen. It is impossible, even
if we were to admit that this Ptolemaic account had any référence