DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0123
FLOWERS 97
in gold, relieved by rich blue enamel. This is a most
beautiful and unique work of art, not surpassed by any
modern design ; perfect in finish. Near to it lie a
bracelet of gold, double hinged, ornamented with the
same blue enamel, a diadem of gold, a golden
scarab, and a small golden dagger, all most beautifully
wrought and finished, found upon the bod)- of the
queen.*
The collection of fruits, seeds, grain, and flowers
which have been found in various tombs, and garlands
taken from mummy cases are particularly interesting.
Some of these flowers have been steeped in warm
water, when they opened out perfectly ; they were
then carefully mounted on cardboard, and the work
has been so thoroughly well performed that the
various portions of the flower are perfectly distinct
and discernible, yet these flowers formed funeral
wreaths thousands of years ago '. In another frame
are lotus flowers taken from the mummy of Kameses
the Great when the bod)- was unrolled in [886. The
late Dr. Birch, in mentioning this circumstance at a
meeting of the Council of the Society of Biblical
Archaeology stated that the colour of the flower which
he had seen was " as blue as a forget-me-not" '. and
commented upon the excellence to which the em-
balmer's art had attained at that period of Egypt's
greatness, comparing it with the much less efficient
work of later periods, Greek and Roman times, when
he said the flowers were "of the colour of brown
paper, and the embalming much less perfect."
The blue lotus flowers have faded from their first
brilliance, certainly, possibly from exposure to the
light, which is always strong in Egypt
* Sec X. itc 8.
8
in gold, relieved by rich blue enamel. This is a most
beautiful and unique work of art, not surpassed by any
modern design ; perfect in finish. Near to it lie a
bracelet of gold, double hinged, ornamented with the
same blue enamel, a diadem of gold, a golden
scarab, and a small golden dagger, all most beautifully
wrought and finished, found upon the bod)- of the
queen.*
The collection of fruits, seeds, grain, and flowers
which have been found in various tombs, and garlands
taken from mummy cases are particularly interesting.
Some of these flowers have been steeped in warm
water, when they opened out perfectly ; they were
then carefully mounted on cardboard, and the work
has been so thoroughly well performed that the
various portions of the flower are perfectly distinct
and discernible, yet these flowers formed funeral
wreaths thousands of years ago '. In another frame
are lotus flowers taken from the mummy of Kameses
the Great when the bod)- was unrolled in [886. The
late Dr. Birch, in mentioning this circumstance at a
meeting of the Council of the Society of Biblical
Archaeology stated that the colour of the flower which
he had seen was " as blue as a forget-me-not" '. and
commented upon the excellence to which the em-
balmer's art had attained at that period of Egypt's
greatness, comparing it with the much less efficient
work of later periods, Greek and Roman times, when
he said the flowers were "of the colour of brown
paper, and the embalming much less perfect."
The blue lotus flowers have faded from their first
brilliance, certainly, possibly from exposure to the
light, which is always strong in Egypt
* Sec X. itc 8.
8