Herodotus's Theory
Herodotus is a Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC and died in 425 BC.
After a person has died, the women of the household will cover their faces with mud and with girdles attached to their dresses, they with spread across the town while beating their bare breasts. As for the men, they will also wear girdles and like the women, they will beat themselves. After the funeral is over, the body will be prepared for embalming. Herodotus wrote about 3 ways of embalming
1. This a method that completely relies on the embalmers. The embalmers would produce 3 wooden models of of the choices the family of the dead would like their deceased to be like, and then after a price is agreed on, the rest is up to the embalmers.
2. This is the most precise and perfect technique of mummification. First, the brain is removed with a metal hook through the nostrils of the dead and whatever the hook cannot reach will have to be washed out with drugs. Then, with a knife made of flint, the abdomen is cut and all contents in the lower torso will be removed. With palm wine and ground spices, the cavity is cleaned and thoroughly washed out. Myrrh, cassia and a huge variety of aromatic substances will be used to fill up the entire empty space (frankincense excepted). After the abdomen is sewn up again, the entire body will be covered with natron (a kind of salt) [http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/glossary/natron01.html] and left to dry out for EXACTLY 70 days. When the 70 days is over, the body will be washed and covered with strips of linen, using gum as glue on the underside. At this stage, the body will be returned to the family of the deceased and they will place the body in a wooden coffin the family had crafted.
If somehow there was a financial problem, the treatment will be different. The intestines will not be removed, however cedar oil will still be injected through the anus with a syringe, which will the be plugged up in order to prevent the oil from escaping. Then the body will be covered in natron and left for a prescribed amount of days. On the last of these days, the oil will be drained off but because the natron has already dried out the flesh, the internal organs will flow out along with the oil. This will only leave the skin and bones, and without further treatment, the body will be returned to its family.
3. This method is the simplest and cheapest way of embalming, normally used for mummifying the body of the poor. All that occurs is the washing out of the intestines and to simply leave the body in natron for 70 days.
Sources:
http://www.mummytombs.com/egypt/herodotus.htm
http://ib205.tripod.com/herodotus_mummification.html
image - http://thunderbird.guhsdaz.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=1128705
After a person has died, the women of the household will cover their faces with mud and with girdles attached to their dresses, they with spread across the town while beating their bare breasts. As for the men, they will also wear girdles and like the women, they will beat themselves. After the funeral is over, the body will be prepared for embalming. Herodotus wrote about 3 ways of embalming
1. This a method that completely relies on the embalmers. The embalmers would produce 3 wooden models of of the choices the family of the dead would like their deceased to be like, and then after a price is agreed on, the rest is up to the embalmers.
2. This is the most precise and perfect technique of mummification. First, the brain is removed with a metal hook through the nostrils of the dead and whatever the hook cannot reach will have to be washed out with drugs. Then, with a knife made of flint, the abdomen is cut and all contents in the lower torso will be removed. With palm wine and ground spices, the cavity is cleaned and thoroughly washed out. Myrrh, cassia and a huge variety of aromatic substances will be used to fill up the entire empty space (frankincense excepted). After the abdomen is sewn up again, the entire body will be covered with natron (a kind of salt) [http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/glossary/natron01.html] and left to dry out for EXACTLY 70 days. When the 70 days is over, the body will be washed and covered with strips of linen, using gum as glue on the underside. At this stage, the body will be returned to the family of the deceased and they will place the body in a wooden coffin the family had crafted.
If somehow there was a financial problem, the treatment will be different. The intestines will not be removed, however cedar oil will still be injected through the anus with a syringe, which will the be plugged up in order to prevent the oil from escaping. Then the body will be covered in natron and left for a prescribed amount of days. On the last of these days, the oil will be drained off but because the natron has already dried out the flesh, the internal organs will flow out along with the oil. This will only leave the skin and bones, and without further treatment, the body will be returned to its family.
3. This method is the simplest and cheapest way of embalming, normally used for mummifying the body of the poor. All that occurs is the washing out of the intestines and to simply leave the body in natron for 70 days.
Sources:
http://www.mummytombs.com/egypt/herodotus.htm
http://ib205.tripod.com/herodotus_mummification.html
image - http://thunderbird.guhsdaz.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=1128705
diodorus' Theory
Like Herodotus, Diodorus was also a Greek historian who lived in the 1st century BC and was born in Sicily. He wrote is works between 60 and 30 BC. This is his theory:
When one dies, after putting mud on their heads, the person's family will go grieving in the town until the body is buried. During that period, the family will resist from all luxuries, including bathing, wine, other delicasies, jewelery or even fine clothes. Like Herodotus, Diodorus also claims there are three methods of embalming, one very expensive, one normal, and the last one the most cheap. The expenses are as follows:
1. (The most expensive) A talent (26 kilograms) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talent_%28measurement%29] of silver is required.
2. (Normal cost) 20 minae (A mina is equivalent to 50 shekels) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mina_(unit)]
3. (Cheapest Method) The cost for this method is unknown but it requires very little money.
Whoever performs the embalming learns the art from their forefathers. First, after laying the body down, the scribe will leave a mark near the left flank, the place which will be cut. Then, a person called the cutter, will use an Ethiopian Stone to cut where the mark is. As soon as the cut is completed, the cutter must run in order to escape the people pursuing him while throwing stones and cursing, for he has defiled the deceased. On the other hand, the embalmers are treated with respect and are allowed in the temples as holy men, unlike the cutter. After that, on of the embalmers will insert his hand into the wound and pull out all the contents, except for the kidneys and heart. Another man will clean each of the organs and sweeten them with palm wine and incense. Having washed the whole body, it will be treated with cedar oil and other fragrant things for 30 days, then myrrh, cinnamon and other spices. Not only does this preserve the body, but it also gives off a aromatic smell. This causes every part of the body, even the eyelashes and eyebrows, to be unchangable and the person to be recognizable.
"Therefore, many of the Egyptians, keeping the bodies of their ancestors in fine chambers, can behold at a glance those who died before they themselves were born..." - Diodorus
Sources:
http://www.mummytombs.com/egypt/diodorus.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diodorus_Siculus
image - http://bangladeshunlocked.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/gangaridai-lands-of-bangladesh.html
When one dies, after putting mud on their heads, the person's family will go grieving in the town until the body is buried. During that period, the family will resist from all luxuries, including bathing, wine, other delicasies, jewelery or even fine clothes. Like Herodotus, Diodorus also claims there are three methods of embalming, one very expensive, one normal, and the last one the most cheap. The expenses are as follows:
1. (The most expensive) A talent (26 kilograms) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talent_%28measurement%29] of silver is required.
2. (Normal cost) 20 minae (A mina is equivalent to 50 shekels) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mina_(unit)]
3. (Cheapest Method) The cost for this method is unknown but it requires very little money.
Whoever performs the embalming learns the art from their forefathers. First, after laying the body down, the scribe will leave a mark near the left flank, the place which will be cut. Then, a person called the cutter, will use an Ethiopian Stone to cut where the mark is. As soon as the cut is completed, the cutter must run in order to escape the people pursuing him while throwing stones and cursing, for he has defiled the deceased. On the other hand, the embalmers are treated with respect and are allowed in the temples as holy men, unlike the cutter. After that, on of the embalmers will insert his hand into the wound and pull out all the contents, except for the kidneys and heart. Another man will clean each of the organs and sweeten them with palm wine and incense. Having washed the whole body, it will be treated with cedar oil and other fragrant things for 30 days, then myrrh, cinnamon and other spices. Not only does this preserve the body, but it also gives off a aromatic smell. This causes every part of the body, even the eyelashes and eyebrows, to be unchangable and the person to be recognizable.
"Therefore, many of the Egyptians, keeping the bodies of their ancestors in fine chambers, can behold at a glance those who died before they themselves were born..." - Diodorus
Sources:
http://www.mummytombs.com/egypt/diodorus.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diodorus_Siculus
image - http://bangladeshunlocked.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/gangaridai-lands-of-bangladesh.html
Contrast
In order to gain further knowledge about Herodotus and Diodorus' theories, he is a table to emphasize the similarities and differences between their theories.
# of embalming methods
_______________________ Organs removed? _______________________ Ceremony before mummification? ________________________ Materials used to preserve corpse ________________________ Tool used to cut body |
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