Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/387

AGE OF THE XXVI. EGYPTIAN DYNASTY. 279 was another genius, Tuatmiitf.^ The fragments of the genius Amset were not found ; they probably existed in another mass, which was removed, but reserved for future scientific examination. A mass resembhng the heart was also discovered, but no other objects or idols. Upon denuding the skull of its bandages, the profile of the lady was exposed, and exhibited the usual Egyj)tian peculiarities — the features delicate, the nose aquiline, the mouth closed, the hair thin, and in short curls, — not black, but of a bright yellow colour, and still adhering to the scalp. The dura mater was found very perfect, and a linen plug still remained in the nose. The eyes of the deceased had been removed, and two others, the tunica albucjinea composed of white wax, and the pupils, formed of obsidian, substituted for them. Along the edges of the lower maxilla was also a substance unctuous, and like w^ax or adipocere. Some of the teeth remained, but tightly imbedded in bitumen or asphalt. On the whole, the mummy was well preserved, and undoubtedly^ of a class highly esteemed by the Egyptians themselves, but not presenting a type so human as those of the Greek and Roman periods, when less asphalt was employed, and the texture of the muscular frame better preserved. The exami- nation of this mummy tends, I think, to throw considerable doubt on the hypothesis that heat was employed. It is evident that if the whole body had been subjected to sufl[icient heat to melt the asphalt, it must also have melted the waxen figures of the genii of the dead; while their preservation can only be accounted for by supposing that they were w^rapped up with a cold solution of asphalt and some oil, the latter of which has indurated after the slow dessication of two thousand years. On removing some bandages, I accidental!}^ discovered a clue to the age of the mummy ; for upon a narrow strip of a fringed cloth about four inches wide, I discovered a line of hieroglyphics traced vertically along the breadth of the bandage, close to the fringe, reading, suten sa or mut Amenar- tus — " The Princess," or " Queen Mother Amenartas." It did not appear that this inscription necessarily was placed on the bandage when upon the mummy, because it was close under the second inner cartonage, and written on the surface close ^ The reading Siumutcf, Smof, Sob- theque Nationalo, this name is written mutf, &c of this genius are all errors. Tuautmiitf,'..t,cAi; «•«, the loop; See Bunsen, Egypts. Place, p. 4;)0. On a ta, the haid holding a gift; mut, the vul- eoffin of one of the concubines (s^w) of ture ;/, the cerastes. Amen, named Tentnahi'er, in the Biblio-