care to see the several Operations perform’d in due order, and sometimes
did them himself; for tho’ the _Curatores Corporis_, that were his
Assistants and Servants, commonly Dissected, Embowell’d, Wash’d,
Anointed and _Embalm’d_ the Bodies of the meaner sort of People, yet
when any Prince or Nobleman was to be _Embalm’d_, after the richest and
most curious manner, he perform’d the chief part of the Work himself,
and this he was the more capable of as being both an exquisite
_Anatomist_, and well vers’d in the Nature of all _Balsamic_ Medicines,
whether _Galenical_ or _Chymical_, and tho’ he might be something
inferior to the _Physician_, yet in conjunction with him, was he both
the better able to consider the Nature of the deceas’d Person’s
Distemper, or Cause of his Death, and accordingly to proceed in his
_Embalming_; and lastly, he was very dextrous and knowing in the _Art_
of _Bandage_, whereby it appears his chief Business was to _Embalm_ and
Roul up the Body, which, in respect to its being thus preserv’d by
Balsamic and Medicinal Ingredients, artificially and topically apply’d,
was said to be _Corpus Medicatum_, [Sidenote: _Corpus Medicatum._] a
Body preserv’d from Putrifaction by _Embalming_. Now I cannot imagine,
as some Authors affirm, they did this always in one road or manner, but
that the Physician vary’d his Prescriptions, by adding one thing and
subtracting another, increasing the quantity of one Ingredient or
diminishing that of another, according to the Constitution of the
Person, and Nature of his Disease, agreeable to which was the
_Embalming_ perform’d; for ’tis certain some Medicines are more
prevalent against Putrifactions than others, and that there ought to be
a difference, as well, in the Composition of the Medicine, as in the
_Embalming_ one that dy’d only thro’ a natural Decay, one that dy’d of
some malignant Distemper, or one that dy’d of a _Hectic_ Feaver, which
consumes and dries up the radical Moisture of the Body, and one that
dy’d of a _Dropsie_, which colliquates the Body and makes it fluid with
its Waters. In a word, there ought to be a difference even in an old
Body and a Young; therefore, as the Doctor’s Prescriptions were vary’d,
according to these Considerations, so was there a greater occasion for a
skilful Apothecary, to take care of and see to the compounding the
_Aromatic Powders_, _Oils_, _Balsams_, _Ointments_, _Cerecloths_,
_Tinctures_, _Spirits_, and the like analogous Things, and their
Application, according to the Directions of the _Doctor_; and as the
_Surgeon_ had under him a _Dissector_, &c. [Sidenote: _Dissector._] who
embowell’d and wash’d the Body, and did the like inferior Businesses, so
had the _Apothecary_ Servants under him to make up the Medicines,
administer Clysters and Injections, and to Anoint the Body, thence
call’d _Pollinctors_. [Sidenote: _Pollinctor._] Thus was the chief
Concern of the _Embalming_ a Body manag’d by the Advice and Assistance
of the _Physician_, _Surgeon_ and _Apothecary_, as indeed it ought also
to be perform’d at this Day, and not to have ignorant _Undertakers_
direct and act all things at their pleasure. But when Bodies were to be
_Embalm’d_ without _Gums_, _Spices_, _Cedria_, _Asphalt_, _Pissasphalt_
or the like, such as the poorest People, who could not be at the expence
of them, they were chiefly committed to the Care of the _Taricheutæ_ or
_Salitores_, [Sidenote: _Taricheutæ Salitores._] who only prepar’d and
dry’d them with _Salt_, and then such Bodies were call’d _Corpora
Condita_, pickl’d or salted Bodies. [Sidenote: _Corpora Condita._] Thus
having shown the principal Persons of this _Office_, and who directed
and perform’d the _Embalming_, we will next give an account of those
that provided all things necessary for the Funeral. These were such as
the _Greeks_ call’d Ἐνταφιαστής, [Sidenote: Ἐνταφιαστής,] he that got
the Body ready and prepar’d all Necessaries for the Interment;
[Sidenote: Ἐνταφιοπώλις.] Ἐνταφιοπώλις, he that sold all Matters
appertaining to Funerals, and Νεκροκόσμος the Dresser, [Sidenote:
Νεκροκόσμος,] or one that put on the Ornaments of the Dead: But all
these were term’d by the _Romans_ in general _Libitinarii_, [Sidenote:
_Libitinarii._] the _Undertakers_ and _Furnishers_ of Funerals, who had
the Care of preparing, letting out or selling the Ornaments and Dresses
for the Dead, and of providing Mourners, mourning Habits, and whatever
else was necessary for the Funeral Pomp; nay who eas’d the afflicted
Friends of their Trouble. They were thus nam’d from _Libitina_, a
Goddess whom the Ancients believ’d to preside over Funerals, and some
took to be _Proserpina_, but others _Venus_, thereby to show, that as
she was at the beginning of Life by Generation, so was she likewise at
the end or conclusion thereof, inasmuch as in her Temple were kept and
sold all things necessary for Funeral-Solemnities. Other _Officers_ were
the _Herald_, _Painter_, _Carver_, &c.
[Sidenote: The _Herald_.]
The _Herald’s_ Business was to proclaim and give notice of the
approaching Funeral, to summon and invite the Company, and lastly to
marshall them in the Funeral-Procession, according to their respective
Dignities and Quality. [Sidenote: _Painter._] The _Painter_ was to gild
or paint the Body and Coffin, with _Hieroglyphic_ Characters, _&c._
[Sidenote: _Carver._] And the _Carver_ to make the Models of Wood that
were to be shown to the deceas’d Person’s Friends, to denote that they
_Embalm’d_ Bodies three several Ways, and at as many different Rates;
they likewise wrought the Coffins into the shape and form of the
Deceas’d. But we shall speak more of these in their order, after having
first given some Particulars relating to the several Methods of the
_Egyptian Embalming_, not hitherto so fully describ’d. [Sidenote:
_Embalming_ with _Cedar_.] First then, we believe the manner of
_Embalming_ with _Cedar_ might probably be invented to satisfie such
whose Consciences would admit of no Dissection at all, and the most
likely Method of performing it was by injecting into the _Brain_, thro’
the _Nostrils_, into the _Thorax_, thro’ the _Aspera Arteria_, and into
the _Stomach_ and _Intestines_, thro’ the _Oesophagus_ and _Anus_, _Oil_
of _Cedar_, by the help of a _Siringe_ and _Dilator_. This being a
subtil, hot, and rectify’d Oil of a _Caustic_ Nature, wasted and
consum’d the Bowels like to quick Lime, and then the Body being hung up
or plac’d in a declining posture, they press’d and squeez’d out the said
Oil, which brought away with it the Bowels wasted. Then the Corps being
wash’d and cleans’d, they again injected into all the _Cavities_ and
_Venters_, as much as they could of a _Balsam_ distill’d from the Pitch
of young _Cedars_, which being depriv’d of its corrosive and subtil Oil,
had nothing of a _Caustic_ Quality remaining in it, but consisted only
of drying, exsiccating and _Balsamic_ Parts. Then they laid the Body in
Pickle for 70 Days; after which, having wip’d it, they anointed it with
a sweet and drying Ointment, which perhaps from the _Basis_ of its
Composition might be term’d _Unguentum Cedrinum_, [Sidenote: _Unguentum
Cedrinum._] and then dry’d it in the Sun or otherwise, by which means
all remaining Moisture, and the thinner and more subtil parts of the
_Balsam_ being evaporated, the Body became hard, firm and solid, like to
a _Colophony_ of Turpentine or Pitch.
[Sidenote: _Embalming_ with _Pissasphalt_.]
The second Way of _Embalming_ among the _Egyptians_ was perform’d with
natural or factitious _Pissasphalt_, just in the same manner as I shall
show with _Asphalt_, but only the natural _Pissasphalt_ was us’d for the
midling sort of People, and the factitious for the poorer and common
People and Slaves; nor was there any Curiosity in these more than the
usual Exenteration, Salination and Coction in the _Bitumens_, for they
neither us’d Roulers nor bestow’d Coffins on them.
The third sort, which was for the more substantial People, [Sidenote:
_Embalming_ with _Asphalt_.] was more costly and exact, and perform’d
with _Asphalt_ after this manner: The Corps being open’d, embowell’d,
wash’d, cleans’d and salted after the usual Method, was put into a large
Cauldron fill’d with _Asphalt_, or _Bitumen Judaicum_, made fluid with
_Naptha_, and then boil’d ’till it had melted the Fat, and consum’d all
the Humors and Juices which are the Principals of Corruption, by which
means the soft parts of the Flesh were made firm, and the whole Body
penetrated, and as it were pitch’d to the Marrow of the Bones, with this
Bituminous Liquor. Then being taken out of the Cauldron, and swath’d up
whilst it was yet hot, it at length became petrify’d and hard like to
Marble.
[Illustration:
_J. Sturt sculp._
_To Charles Bernard Esq^r. Serjeant Surgeon:
Who has been pleased to encourage this Work,
This Plate is humbly dedicated by
His most humble servant_ Tho. Greenhill.
]
[Sidenote: _Embalming_ with _Aromatics_ and _Balsams_.]
The fourth and last way is both Noble and Expensive, and was perform’d
to the utmost Perfection, Art and Skill. The _Brain_ being extracted,
and the _Thorax_ and _Abdomen_ releas’d of their _Viscera_, all the
Cavities were thoroughly cleans’d with aromatiz’d Wine, and then
repleted with a Composition of _Myrrh_, _Aloes_, _Cinamon_,
_Opobalsamum_, _Saffron_, and the like; after which, they sew’d up the
Incisions, and salted the Body with _Nitre_ for 70 Days, and then wiping
and drying it from the Pickle or Salt, they anointed it with an Ointment
made of aromatic, balsamic and odoriferous Ingredients, whence some
Authors have call’d a Body so prepar’d, _Funus odoratum_. [Sidenote:
_Funus odoratum._] This done, they swath’d it up with Roulers made of
fine Linnen, and dipp’d in some _Balsam_, _Ointment_ or _Cerecloth_,
which being dry, serv’d like Glue to stop the Pores, and hinder the
Dissipation of the volatil parts of the Aromatics, as well as the
Penetration of the Air. _Guichard_, cap. 10. p. 479. _des Funerailles
des Ægyptiens_, thinks this Gum to have been _Acacia_, of which see
_Dioscorides_, Lib. 1. cap. 134. _& apud Mathiol._ p. 115. But
_Bellonius_ and other Authors think the Gum which _Herodotus_ says the
_Egyptians_ us’d instead of Glue was _Cedria_, besmear’d on the Roulers
in manner of a Cerecloth: [Sidenote: _Roulers_ how prepar’d, _&c._]
Others say the Body was first anointed with a Gum, and then wrapped up
in fine Linnen, and _Casalius de veter. Ægyptior. Ritibus_, p. 30. says,
_Gummi Oleo inungebant_, which is more agreeable to the Observations I
have made, That the Roulers seem’d either dipp’d _in Oleo seu Unguento
Cedrino_, or after the Body was anointed with it, roul’d up and
finish’d, then that the Bandages were prepar’d after the manner of a
Cerecloth, with _Gum_ or _Rosin_ of _Cedar_, because this would have
made them hard and brittle, whereas those which I have seen, were
pliable and free from any _Gum_ or _Embalming_ Matter adhering to them,
and no ways different from other Linnen, but only of a Cinnamon or
Snuff-Colour; so that probably they might dip or anoint them with the
Oil or Ointment of _Cedar_, rather to make them lasting and durable than
to stick to the Body; for _Greaves_ tells us in his _Pyramidographia_,
p. 50. that he had seen some of these Roulers so strong and perfect, as
if they had been made but Yesterday. With these they bound and swath’d
the dead Body, beginning at the Head and ending with the Feet. Over
these again they wound others, so often one upon another, that there
could not be less than a 1000 ells upon one Body. They interwove these
Roulers so artificially and in such manner, says _Kircher_, as would
puzzle the Ingenuity and tire the Industry of our Modern _Surgeons_ to
find out, yet, with submission to him, it may not be so difficult to
perform by any one tollerably skill’d in the _Art_ of _Bandage_ as he
imagines, for, as I take it, they began with the Feet and Hands, and
ended with the Head, contrary to what _Greaves_ asserts, tho’ I cannot
say this of my own Knowledge, having never had any opportunity of
unrouling such Bodies, but only offer the Consideration thereof,
according to the appearance of the following Figures, of which the first
shows the interior artificial Circumvolutions of the Roulers, the Body
being first wrapp’d in fine Linnen, wherein _Egypt_ excell’d, as the
Holy Scriptures testifie, _Prov._ 7. 16. &c. The second Figure
represents the manner of the next Rouling, and the fourth shews the
external Ornaments, painted with _Hierogliphics_, &c. [Sidenote:
_Designer_ or _Painter_.] For when the Body was thus roul’d, the
_Designer_ or _Painter_ cover’d the superficies of the Roulers with a
kind of Paste or Gum, on which he gilded and painted Cyphers, Figures,
Letters, Characters and other _Hieroglyphics_. The third Figure shows a
Case to keep the Body in, made of Linnen, and painted in like manner
with _Hieroglyphics_ in distinct Colours, having been found in the
_Musæum_ of _Johannes Nardius_. Now concerning the nature and
signification of these _Hieroglyphics_, [Sidenote: _Hieroglyphic_
Characters.] Authors variously write; but none have taken so much Pains,
or div’d so far into the meaning of them, as the Learned _Kircher_, who
pretends to explain all the _Hieroglyphic_ Characters painted on the
Roulers and Coffins of the _Mummies_, in his _Oedipi Ægyptiaci Theatrum
Hieroglyphicum_, where also, _p._ 412 and 414. you may find the
particular Explanations of the third and fourth Figures. But since there
remains no Alphabet or Dictionary of these Characters (for the entire
Knowledge of _Hieroglyphics_ perish’d at the Time the _Egyptian_
Ceremonies ceas’d, and were abolish’d by the Irruption _Cambyses_ made
into _Egypt_) we believe all those assiduous Penetrations into these
Mysteries by _Kircher_ and _R. P. Menestrier_, are but imperfect
Conjectures and meer Imaginations. However, having spoken of the
_Egyptian_ Language in no part of this Book before, it may not be amiss
to insert here some few Particulars concerning it. [Sidenote: Two sorts
of _Languages_ and _Characters_.] First then, there were two sorts of
Languages and Characters among the _Egyptians_; one common and us’d by
all, constituted for their Trade and Commerce with Mankind, and which
was that Tongue or Idiom call’d the _Coptic_ or _Pharonic_, and the
other us’d only by Priests, Prophets, _Hierogrammatists_ or Holy
Writers, and the like Persons in Sacerdotal Orders. The first was
written from the Right Hand to the Left in Characters not unlike the old
_Greek_; but the latter consisted not of Letters, Syllables or Words,
but thro’ the Image and Pictures of Things, they endeavour’d to deliver
their hidden Conceits in the Letters and Language of Nature. Thus by a
representation of the several Parts and Actions of Man, the shape of
Artificers Tools and Instruments, the form of all sorts of Animals,
Beasts, Birds and Fish, the resemblance of the Sun, Moon, Planets and
the like, they exactly read and understood every thing couch’d within
those _Hieroglyphics_. For Example, the Crocodile was the Emblem of
Malice; the Eye the Preserver of Justice and the Guard of the Body; the
Right Hand, with its Fingers open, signify’d Plenty, and the Left, with
its Fingers clos’d, Preservation and Custody of Mens Goods and Estates.
To express their _Eneph_ or Creator of the World, the _Egyptians_
describ’d an old Man in a blew Mantle, with an Egg in his Mouth, which
was the Emblem of the World, and express’d their Notion of Divinity by
an Eye on a Scepter, by an Eagle’s Head, _&c._ Of which see more in Sir
_Thomas Brown_’s _Vulgar Errors_, cap. 20. where he rightly observes,
that of all Nations that suffer’d by the Confusion of _Babel_, the
_Egyptians_ found the best Evasion; for tho’ Words were confounded, they
invented a Language of Things, and spake to each other by common Notions
in Nature, whereby they discours’d in silence, and were intuitively
understood from the Theory of their Impressions; for they assum’d the
shapes of Animals common to all Eyes, and by their Conjunctions and
Compositions were able to communicate their Conception to any that
co-apprehended the _Syntaxis_ of their Natures. This many conceive to
have been the Primitive way of Writing, and of greater Antiquity than
Letters; and this Language indeed might _Adam_ well have spoken, who
understanding the Nature of Things, had the advantage of Natural
Expressions, _&c._ But to add two or three Examples more out of _Orus_:
For Eternity the _Egyptians_ painted the Sun and Moon, as Things which
they believ’d to have had no beginning, nor were likely to have any
ending; for a Year they painted a Snake with his Tail in his Mouth, to
show how, one Year succeeding another, the World was still kept in an
endless Circle; for a Month they painted a Palm-Tree, by reason at every
new Moon that Tree sends forth a new Branch; for GOD they painted a
Falcon, as well in that he soars so exceeding high, as that he governs
the lesser Birds, for Integrity of Life they painted Fire and Water,
both because these Elements are in themselves most pure, and by reason
all other Things are purify’d by them; for any thing that was abominable
to the Gods they painted a Fish, because in their Sacrifices the Priests
never us’d them, and the like of which you will find innumerable
Instances in _Pierius_’s Book of the _Egyptian Hieroglyphics_. Now what
so great a number of these Sacred Characters inscrib’d on their
_Obelisks_ and _Mummies_ signify’d, Authors seem to differ about, some
looking on them as _Charms_ and _Necromancy_, [Sidenote:
_Hieroglyphics_, their _Signification_.] and others thinking they did
thereby endeavour not so much to express as hide their Meanings, to
amuse and awe the Vulgar; but I am more inclinable to think they always
contain’d some History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Actions of the
Deceas’d, or else some Religious Ceremonies, and the like; for _Diodorus
Siculus_, Lib. 1. cap. 4. writes of _Sesoosis_, that he erected two
Obelisks of polish’d Marble 120 Cubits high, on which were inscrib’d a
Description of the large extent of his Empire, the great Value of his
Revenue, and the number of the Nations by him conquer’d; and what sort
of Writing this was, is explain’d a little before, where, speaking of
the like Works, he says, he erected Pillars whereon were inscrib’d in
_Egyptian_ Letters call’d _Hieroglyphics_ these Words: Sesoosis _King of
Kings and Lord of Lords subdu’d this Country by his Arms_. Also _Lib._
5. _cap._ 3. he writes of a Golden Pillar whereon were Letters
inscrib’d, call’d by the _Egyptians_ Sacred Writing, expressing the
famous Actions of _Uranus_, _Jupiter_, _Diana_ and _Apollo_, written, as
they say, by _Mercury_ himself, whom most Authors agree with him to have
been the first Inventor of these _Hieroglyphic Characters_.
[Sidenote: _Dresses_ and _Ornaments_ of the _Mummies_.]
But to return to the manner of _dressing_ and _adorning_ the _Embalm’d_
Bodies, such as is represented in Figure the 4th, where you may see the
Image and Form of a Woman set off with various Ornaments, the
signification of whose _Hieroglyphic Characters_ you have explain’d by
_Kircher_, in the Book and Page before-mention’d; we shall next proceed
to give an account of an extraordinary fine _Mummy_ which _Pietro della
Valle_ saw and describes in this manner, _viz._ That upon it was the
Figure of a young Man, dress’d in a long Gown, gilded and sprinkl’d over
with _Hieroglyphic_ Emblems from Head to Foot, set off with precious
Stones, with the Hair of his Head black and curl’d, and his Beard of the
same colour, but short; a Chain of Gold hung about his Neck, having a
Medal with the Image of the Bird _Ibis_ on it, with many other Marks and
Characters, which give us to understand this young Man was possess’d of
great Dignities. In his Right Hand he held a Golden Bason full of red
Liquor, and in his Left a Fruit somewhat resembling an Apple: He had a
Gold-Ring on his Thumb, and another on his little Finger, likewise
Sandals which cover’d the Soles of his Feet only, and were ty’d above
the Instep with Straps or Latchets. On a Fillet or Rouler hanging at his
Girdle, one might plainly read the word _Eutichi_, which signifies _Good
Time_. By his side was a Woman yet more richly and mysteriously adorn’d,
with an Ox, the Image of _Apis_ or _Isis_, at her Feet. In a word, both
these Figures were painted like to the Saints of the Ancients. When the
dead Bodies of the _Egyptians_ were _Embalm’d_, roul’d, painted and
adorn’d after the manner we have describ’d, as you may partly see at
Figures the first, second and fourth, they put them into Cases or
Coffins made of Linnen pasted to a great thickness, or else of Wood
carv’d in the similitude and likeness of the Person deceas’d, as you may
see at Figures the third and fifth; the first of which shows the back
part of a Linnen-Case for a _Mummy_, painted with several Colours, as is
to be seen in the Collection of _Johannes Nardius_; and the other how a
roul’d Body lies plac’d in a wooden Coffin, as may be seen in the
_Musæum_ of the Great Duke of _Tuscany_.
[Illustration:
Jos. Nutting Sculp.
To D^r. John Lawson who has been pleas’d to encourage this Work, this
Plate is humbly dedicated by his most humble Servant Thomas
Greenhill.
]
[Sidenote: _Coffins_ of _Sycamore_.]