Description of an Egyptian mummy, presented to the Massachusetts General Hospital : with an account of the operation of embalming, in ancient and modern times / by John C. Warren.

  • Warren, John Collins, 1778-1856.
Date:
[1824?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Description of an Egyptian mummy, presented to the Massachusetts General Hospital : with an account of the operation of embalming, in ancient and modern times / by John C. Warren. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    that the fabrication of such a work by the ignorant and sluggish inhabitants of Thebes, and its Necropolis, would have been attended with greater difficulties, than the acqui- sition of many mummies from the catacombs. Some mummies in the cabinet of Dresden, which have been described by Winckelman, corresponded generally with this; but had peculiarities not unworthy of notice. They were four in number; two only are particularly described, one a male, the other a female. The former had its ban- dages painted with the figure of a man in the prime of life, with a curled beard; his head enveloped with gilded bands, on which were represented precious stones. About the neck, a chain of gold was painted; various other orna- ments in different parts, and the fingers were set off with rings. The feet and legs were naked, excepting that the former were covered with a kind of sandals. These ap- pearances designate the body of a priest; for it is well known this order of men were most highly honoured by the Egyptians. They were the physicians, law-givers, and ministers of religion when alive, and on their death their bodies were treated with greater honours, and covered with more ornaments than others. The patera in the hand and the sandals on the feet, are especially appropriated to the mummies of the priests. The most remarkable thing about this mummy is the in- scription on the breast in Greek characters, ETWTXI. This inscription, or one very nearly like it, has been found in other places, as an epitaph or a valedictory address, or the conclusion to a letter; and appears to mean, Live happy! or perhaps in this instance, Be happy! The word is un- doubtedly Greek, and a question arises, how it should come to be placed on the body of an Egyptian priest. Winckel- man judiciously suggests that this might be the body of a Carian or Ionian, who had been naturalized in Egypt, and admitted to the mysteries of the priesthood; or is it not pro- bable it might be intended to distinguish one of those Egyp- tians, whom king Psammetichus placed in the care of the Ionians and Carians, settled in Egypt, for the purpose of having them thoroughly educated in the Greek language ? These, when grown up, served as interpreters, and as some of them probably belonged to the order of priests, the in- scription might be placed on the body as a mark of distinc- tion for this kind of learning.