Файл:Mummy of Ramses II by Boston Public Library.jpg

BPLDC no.: 08_04_000043

Page Title: Mummy of Ramses II

Collection: Tupper Scrapbooks Collection

Album: Volume 26: Lower Egypt. Pyramids.

Call no. 4098B.104 v26 (p. 42)

Creator: Tupper, William Vaughn

Description: Scrapbook page with a photograph of the Mummy of the Egyptian ruler Ramses II, annotated with information about the discovery of the mummy and the embalming process. There are also drawings of cartouches.

Subjects: Egyptian (ancient) mummy portraits photography Egypt Embalming--Egypt

Page size: 33 x 38.1 cm

Annotations: XIX Dynasty Ramses II. After a month of discussion and quarelling Abd-er Rassoul went secretly to the moudir at Quenah and divulged his secret- who in turn informed the minister of Interior. Maspero being about to leave for Europe his assistant Brugsh Bey, with the secretary of the Museum, and the inspector of the Pyramids. On Friday the 5th July Mohammed Ahmed Abd-er Rassoul conducted them to the hidden spot near Dëir el Bahari. Excavations then began which resulted in the discovery of vases, statuette, coffins and mummies of the Pharaohs. "Et quels Pharaons! les plus illustres peut-etre de l'histoire d'Egypte Toutmes III et Seti I. Ahmes le libérateur et Ramses II le conquerant." By the 11 of July all the mummies sarcophagi [etc?] are at Luxor awaiting the steamboat of the museum. For memoranda concerning Seti I and Ramses II see Book of pictures of Luxor and Karnak. The greeks mention three ways in which these mummies were embalmed. In the first, the brains were extracted through the nose and the intestines removed. The body was then filled with myrrh, cassia, etc then steeped in natron seventy days. It was then washed and swathed in linen bandages gummed inside. This cost about $1.250. Second (2d) oil of cedar was injected into the body to dissolve the intestines in order that they might be removed without mutilation of the body which was then laid in natron for 70 days. This dissolved the flesh leaving only skin and bones. This process cost around $300. The third mode was merely to salt the body for 70 days . This was very cheap. If of an important person the mummy was enclosed in a"cartonnage"of plaster and linen fitting the body closely. This was put in a coffin of sycamore wood variously decorated. Lastly there was a sarcophagus of stone or marble. With the deceased were buried"Books of the Dead,"scarabaei in great numbers inscribed with name of the deceased, little figures called Ushabitiu. The latter were to do all the work for the dead in Hades.

Language: English, photograph titled in French

Rights: No known restrictions.

Coverage: Egypt

Notes: Title supplied by cataloger, derived from captions or annotated information.

Format: Scrapbooks

Technique: Photographs, Albumen prints

BPL Department: Print Department

Photo 1: Caption: Mummy of Ramses II

Date: ca. 1860-1890

Flickr data on 2011-08-03:

• Camera: Sinar AG Sinarback 54 FW, Sinar m
• License: CC BY 2.0
• User: Boston Public Library BPL