embalming-The development of Egyptian Embalming

jyynnn

           Embalming is the artificial preservation of the body. In Egypt, the first examples date to Late Predynastic times (late fourth millennium BCE), when the tight wrapping of the corpse is first found at the site of Heirakonpolis. Prior to this, bodies were simply laid in graves in the desert, where in some cases the hot and dry conditions promoted the natural desiccation of the body, producing a wholly natural ‘mummy’ .

           The development and decline of embalming technology has gone through a long process.  During the Early Dynastic Period and Old Kingdom (ca. 3000–2500 BCE), the emphasis was on the exterior appearance of the completed mummy. Each limb was separately wrapped, and a layer of plaster applied to the outer layer, enabling the modelling of the facial features, genitalia and other elements. On occasion, the finished body was dressed in real clothing. The body was invariably placed on its left side, initially with the legs drawn up tightly against the body, later in a more relaxed, mildly flexed, pose . At the same time the first moves towards the preservation of the actual corpse itself were made. The internal organs, a key source of putrefaction, were sometimes removed and placed in four ‘canopic’ jars and/or a chest .
By the end of the Old Kingdom, the key activity in the mummification process was the placement of the body on a stone slab, upon which it was covered with powdered natron for approximately 40 days to facilitate desiccation, with probably at least one change of natron during that time, as a batch became saturated with bodily fluids.By the beginning of the Middle Kingdom (ca.2100–1700 BCE), there had been major changes in the external presentation of mummies.It was during the New Kingdom (ca. 1550–1070 BCE) that mummification reached its ‘standard’ form.Various ritually protective items were increasingly placed on the body during the New Kingdom and later.By the twentieth Dynasty (c. 1190-1070 BC), innovations were being made to give the emaciated corpses a more realistic appearance.During the Graeco‐Roman Period (from 332 BCE), there was a gradual decline in the quality of embalming. Mummification effectively came to an end with paganism.The creeds of Christianity and Islam took a very different view of the role of the corpse, bringing to an end three and a half millennia of development.
from: https://link.springer.com/refere ... -1-4020-4425-0_8562

川渝苹果

It is really interesting!And embalming lets me think of mummies in Xinjiang! But unlike embalming in Egypt, mummies in Xinjiang do not have such complex anti-corrosion treatment.

Here's some related information:

Egyptian mummies were carefully preserved after the internal organs were emptied and subjected to complicated artificial antiseptic treatment. Many thousand year old corpses unearthed in Xinjiang are masterpieces of nature. The unique dry and high temperature environment in Xinjiang makes the thousand year old corpses gradually dehydrate and become dry corpses. These mummies not only have complete organs and normal positions, but also have good collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the tissue structure.

(From:https://news.ifeng.com/history/3 ... _2668_1494081.shtml)

[img]https://pic3.zhimg.com/v2-10c8dd2e5d6091388f23b93f4d7f4702_r.jpg[/img]https://ts1.cn.mm.bing.net/th/id/R-C.3733c62d1a7eae82996f0f80d88e6265?rik=JU1%2bnYiG96Jwhg&riu=http%3a%2f%2fpic147.huitu.com%2fres%2f20200812%2f2499005_20200812230703741030_1.jpg&ehk=cEdSMD9cQRPl09KtOKrPVirWMD3ZzsXLReVsIdfLPi0%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0

绿蚁微醺

防腐是对尸体的人工保存。在埃及，第一个例子可以追溯到前王朝晚期(公元前四千年晚期)，当时在Heirakonpolis遗址首次发现了包裹紧密的尸体。在此之前，尸体被简单地放在沙漠中的坟墓中，在某些情况下，炎热和干燥的条件促进了尸体的自然干燥，产生了完全天然的“木乃伊”。

防腐技术的发展和衰落经历了一个漫长的过程。在早期王朝时期和古王国(约公元前3000-2500年)，重点是完整的木乃伊的外观。每个肢体都被单独包裹，外层涂上一层石膏，使面部特征、生殖器和其他元素的造型成为可能。有时，完成的尸体穿上了真正的衣服。身体总是左侧躺着，最初双腿紧紧地靠在身体上，后来是一种更放松、稍微弯曲的姿势。与此同时，人们开始着手保存尸体本身。内脏是腐烂的主要来源，有时会被取出，放在四个“冠状”罐子和/或一个箱子里。
到古王国末期，木乃伊制作过程中的关键活动是将尸体放置在石板上，在石板上覆盖泡碱粉约40天，以促进干燥，在此期间可能至少更换一次泡碱，因为一批尸体被体液浸透了。到了中央王国(约公元前2100 -1700年)初期，木乃伊的外观发生了重大变化。在新王国时期(约公元前1550-1070年)，木乃伊制作达到了“标准”形式。在新王国时期和后来，各种各样的仪式保护物品越来越多地被戴在身上。到了二十王朝(约公元前1190-1070年)，人们进行了创新，使瘦弱的尸体有了更真实的外观。在希腊罗马时期(从公元前332年开始)，防腐的质量逐渐下降。事实上，木乃伊制作随着异教信仰而终结。基督教和伊斯兰教的教义对尸体的作用有着截然不同的看法，从而结束了长达3500年的发展。

cyg

That’s fantastic.There are so many unbelievable ways.

哈哈哈

Embalming requires high technology.

江离

绿蚁微醺 发表于 2022-11-11 18:05
防腐是对尸体的人工保存。在埃及，第一个例子可以追溯到前王朝晚期(公元前四千年晚期)，当时在Heirakonpoli ...

How interesting it is! I learnt a lot from your post.