Ancient Egyptian
learning pack
Ancient Egyptian
learning pack
Contents
3
4
5
6
12
pre
atm
Pre-visit
13
14
At the Museum
15
15
16
17
18
19
20
post
Post-visit
21
22
Introduction
How the Horniman Museum acquired the Ancient Egyptian objects
Location of the Ancient Egyptian objects in the Horniman Museum
Ancient Egyptian objects in the African Worlds gallery
Ancient Egyptian objects in the Music gallery
Activity ideas for before your visit
Object investigation worksheet
Activities for your visit to the Museum
Canopic jars
An Egyptian Tomb
Wish list
Egyptian Gods
Animal Mummies
Afterlife
Activity ideas for use after your visit to the Museum
Unwrapping the Mummy
To book a free 45minute Ancient Egypt session visit:
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/education/schools or telephone
the Schools’ Education direct line on 020 8291 8686.
introduction
Introduction
Location of the Ancient Egyptian objects in the Museum
AFRICAN WORLDS
MUSIC GALLERY
The Museum has a concise display of Ancient Egyptian objects relating to
mummification and funerary rites. This display is in the African Worlds gallery, at
the far end of the hall from the introductory information. The Ancient Egyptian
objects are placed in the context of contemporary African societies. The display is
entitled “Kemet,” the Ancient Egyptians’ name for their own kingdom. This means
the “black land,” a reference to the black, silty mud from the annual Nile floods
that fertilized the land. Also in the African Worlds gallery there is a small display
case of Ancient Egyptian metal figures, which is opposite the collection of Benin
brass plaques.
A pair of Ancient Egyptian ivory clappers is displayed in the Music Gallery.
Our displays do not include objects about the everyday life of the Ancient
Egyptians. Most of the objects on display date from the New Kingdom
(1550 – 1069 BC).
In this pack
This pack supports the Ancient Egypt session but is also useful for groups visiting
the Museum on a self-led visit. It includes ideas for pre and post visit activities and
also has activity sheets, which can be used in the Museum galleries.
The pack includes information about the location of Ancient Egyptian objects in the
Museum; information about the founder, Frederick Horniman, and his collecting of
Ancient Egyptian objects, and specific information about the objects on display.
The information given in this pack duplicates what is said in the Ancient Egypt
session, so might be more useful as a reminder after a visit to the Museum.
National Curriculum links
This information pack is for teachers of Key Stage 2 History 13: A world history
study. However, teachers of other subjects or levels may find specific information
about these objects a useful preparation for their visit.
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
3
How the Horniman Museum acquired the Ancient Egyptian objects
Frederick Horniman (1835 - 1906) joined his father’s tea business at the age of
fourteen. He collected “curios and specimens of insect life” from an early age.
Later, Frederick Horniman travelled widely and collected many interesting objects
on his travels. At first he displayed his collections at his home, Surrey House, but
when this became difficult he commissioned the present museum building, which
opened in 1901.
In January 1896, Frederick Horniman travelled for two weeks in Egypt. He wrote
about his tour for a local newspaper. On the trip he met Howard Carter, before
he excavated the tomb of Tutankhamen. On January 20th, Carter showed Mr
Horniman around the temples of Luxor and Karnak. Carter then took Mr Horniman
to “the houses of several collectors, and [he] secured some interesting and
genuine Egyptian relics for the Museum at Forest Hill.”
The next day Carter’s colleague, Dr Narille, head of the Egypt Exploration Fund,
showed Mr Horniman around the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir-el-Bahri. Mr
Horniman was impressed by the work of the Fund and wrote, “I did myself the
honour of becoming a donor and subscriber to the Fund, which is being so ably
and judiciously employed.” This proved beneficial to the museum, as a coffin
found at Deir-el-Bahri, which is not on display in African Worlds, was presented to
Mr Horniman by the Committee of the Egypt Exploration Fund, according to the
Museum’s annual report of 1896.
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lecture on mummies. He allowed the speaker to
unwrap a mummy in order to illustrate the lecture.
The newspaper accounts of the lecture are
included here under the post-visit activities. The
Museum’s annual report of 1897, also included
in the post-visit activities, confirms that the
mummy, which was unwrapped, was that of
Pet-Amena-Neb-Nest-Taiu. At the conclusion
of the evening Mr Horniman gave his guests a
souvenir of wrappings from the mummy.
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Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
4
objects Ancient Egyptian objects
in the Horniman Museum
Object locator gallery map
Tower Entrance
Lower Ground Floor
1
AFRICAN WORLDS
African Worlds gallery
African Worlds gallery
Coffin case
Coffin lid with portrait of
an Egyptian priestess
Coffin lid with portrait of
an Egyptian lady
Coffin lid with portrait of
an Egyptian lady
Canopic Jars
Shabti figures and shabti box
Scarab amulet
Heart scarab amulet
The Eye of Horus
Stone stela
Wooden stela
2
Down To
Aquarium
1 Female mummy bandaged
in linen wrappings
Up To Main Entrance
Lift
Gallery
Square
Centenary gallery
Ptah-Sokar-Osiris
Hands on Space
2 Ancient Egyptian metal figures
Music gallery
3
4
5
6
7
MUSIC GALLERY
Music gallery
3 Childhood and Learning
4 Adulthood and Survival
5 Death and Remembrance
6 Trading sounds
7 Listening to Order
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
5
See 1 on map
Female mummy bandaged in linen wrappings
This mummy was placed inside the coffin case displayed below the body itself.
Hieroglyphs on the coffin case identify her as “Henut Sokar,” which means wife
of Sokar and suggests that she was a priestess of Sokar1. The inscriptions also
state that she worked as a priestess of the Ka2 and that she was responsible
for providing food offerings at an altar set up in the name of a deceased person.
She could also have been part of the temple personnel at the Temple of Amun
at Karnak, possibly as a musician or a singer. These
were the sorts of jobs which might have been done
by noble ladies. The style of decoration on the coffin
case suggests that Henut lived during the New
Kingdom era.
This mummy has wrappings that are criss-crossed
in an elaborate pattern all over her body. The
wrappings have been daubed with bitumen. She
has a cartonnage3 mask, which extends from the
face and neck to the pelvic area, and is bound
within the wrappings. Look for the false slippers on
the base of the feet.
Coffin case
This coffin belongs to Henut, the mummy detailed above. The head end the coffin
has the sign of a knot of Isis (also called tyet), which symbolises the unification of
Upper and Lower Egypt, surrounded by papyrus plants and ostrich feathers.
On the near side of the coffin, from right to left, you can see figures of the four
sons of Horus, who also often appear on the lids of canopic jars. These are:
Hapi (ape’s head), who guarded the lungs
Imsety (human head), who guarded the liver
Qebsennuef (hawk’s head), who guarded the intestines
Duamutef (jackal’s head), who guarded the stomach
Left of these is an image of a deceased person, who is depicted in men’s
clothes. This suggests that the coffin was not made especially for Henut.
Next to this, Osiris4 is seated on a throne under a canopy and Thoth, the
ibis-headed god of writing, assists him.
1
2
3
4
Sokar: earth or fertility god from Memphis (near modern Cairo), who was also a patron of craftsmen
Ka: the creative life force of the individual. In the afterlife the ka reunited with the ba to bring the
corpse back to life.
Cartonnage: linen or papyrus stiffened with plaster (“gesso”) and decorated with paint
Osiris: god of the afterlife. In earlier times he was associated with fertility and the growing of the corn.
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
6
See 1 on map
Coffin lid with portrait of an Egyptian priestess
This coffin lid has a small face and an outsized wig
with a vulture feather headdress. The hands are
heavily stylised; their shape suggests the crossing
of the arms seen on mummies from particular eras,
reflecting Osiris holding the crook and flail.
A standard offerings formula5, which does not include
the name of the deceased, runs vertically down the
centre of the coffin lid. Anubis is pictured sitting above
the writing.
Coffin lid with portrait of an Egyptian lady
The upper part of this coffin lid shows the weighing of
the heart ceremony6.
Below the representation of the weighing of the heart,
falcons with sun discs and outstretched wings flank a
picture of the dead person, who is lying on an animalshaped couch or bier, with the canopic jars placed
underneath. Winged uraei (snakes) with sun discs
flank the falcon, representing the ba7 of the dead
person. Look for symbols that protect the body, such
as the Eye of Horus (wadjet or udjat).
The coffin has an offering formula on the feet.
5
6
7
Offerings formula: asking Osiris or Anubis to make sure that the deceased is provided for in the
afterlife. Bread and beer are almost always mentioned which feed the Ka.
Weighing of the heart ceremony: this ceremony takes place in the underworld and passing the
test is a pre-requisite for entering the afterlife. The deceased’s heart (put back into the body
before being wrapped in bandages) is weighed against the feather of truth – if the heart is lighter
the person is allowed into the afterlife by Osiris, if it is heavier the heart is eaten and the deceased
stays in the underworld.
Ba: the “personality” of the individual. It left the physical body after death and is depicted, on
coffins, as a bird. When the ba reunited with the ka in the afterlife, it allowed the individual to live
again in the form of the “akh.”
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
7
See 1 on map
Coffin lid with portrait of an Egyptian lady
This coffin is shown sideways so that you can see
the inside and outside of it. This coffin case has
been identified as belonging to Peta-Amena-Neb
(or “Peta-Amen-Neb-Nest-Taiu”). The body of this
priestess was unwrapped during a lecture at Surrey
House in 1897 (see the post-visit activities for more
information).
Inside the coffin:
The representation and hieroglyphs indicate that this
is the goddess of the sky, Nut. Nut features in the
creation myth of the Ancient Egyptians. As the wife of
Geb the earth god, she was the mother of Osiris, Isis,
Nepthys and Seth.
Nut is depicted on the interior of coffin lids
(particularly from the New Kingdom onwards)
because, just as her body arched over the Earth,
with each limb touching a cardinal point, so she
enfolds and protects the mummy. It was believed
that Nut also swallowed the setting sun and gave
birth to it in the morning. In this way Nut is looking
after the mummy and will give birth to it again.
Outside the coffin:
On the coffin breast Nut is depicted again, this time
with outstretched wings.
(Her name is in the sun disc above her head).
Look for the body of the dead person lying on an
animal-shaped couch. There is a bird flying above the
body, which is a symbol of the ba, sometimes the bird
had a human head, that of the deceased. The physical
body had to reunite with the ba every night. The Book
of the Dead contains a spell about the ba: it says that
the ba bird should be placed on the mummy’s chest
to help this to take place. The mummy mask and
hieroglyphic inscriptions of the person’s name will help
the ba to locate the right body.
Under this, the four sons of Horus are represented
twice, with eyes of Horus at the feet. There are five
columns of dedication to Amen, Seb Ap-Uat, Ra and
Osiris-Kheut Amenti respectively (1897 annual report).
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
8
See 1 on map
Canopic Jars
Both the canopic jars in the “Kemet”
display have a human head, with
hieroglyphic descriptions. While these
jars should have contained livers,
the jar on top has an inscription that
mentions Hapi, the ape-headed god
who guarded the lungs. What do you
think happened?
Shabti figures and shabti box
The shabti furthermost to the left may be made of
wood or clay covered in a plaster called gesso and
painted. The other three figures in our display are
made of faience. This ceramic material consisted
mainly of quartz particles mixed with water and
moulded into shape. The glaze was usually bright
blue or green but other colours could also be made.
The shape of the shabti box is like the shape of the
“pylons” or gates of Egyptian temples.
Scarab amulet
Scarab amulets are modelled on the dung beetle.
This insect lays its eggs in bits of dung, which it
rolls into balls. The newly hatched beetle emerging
from the ball of dung was linked to Ancient Egyptian
ideas of resurrection, because the Egyptian word for
“existence” sounded very like the word for “beetle.”
The amulet symbolised resurrection and linked to
living forever in the Afterlife.
Picture from the handling collection
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
9
See 1 on map
Heart scarab amulet
The heart scarab was an essential funerary amulet
placed over the heart. On the underside a spell is
inscribed telling the heart to say nothing during the
weighing of the heart ceremony, for fear it might
make a guilty confession.
The Eye of Horus (also called “wadjet” or “udjat”) amulet
This symbol ensured good health and it
protected the wearer against the evil eye.
Picture from the handling collection
Stone stela
The names of the four people pictured are written above their heads. They
are smelling lotus flowers. In the Egyptian creation myth the sun rose out of
this flower so it became a symbol of rebirth. The women have blocks of hair
pomade, made of scented animal fat, on their heads.
The text below the figures is a standard offerings inscription:
“An offering, which the king gives to Osiris, the head of the
Westerners (the dead), the great god, ruler of everlasting time.
May he give offerings of bread, beer, oxen, fowl, clothing, incense, oil,
all good, pure things, on which a god lives, for the ka of Nebmehyt
(man on left) and Pa-Men-Neferwadju (woman on left).”
Wooden stela
This shows the falcon-headed sun god (Ra) crossing
celestial waters with three other gods to meet the
deceased. The inscription is a hymn to Ra, from the
Book of the Dead.
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
10
See 1 on map
Ptah-Sokar-Osiris
Spells or magical texts from the Book of the Dead were inscribed on papyrus
and placed in the tomb. Sometimes these were stored inside hollow figures
such as this one representing Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, a composite form of the god
of the dead. These figures also sometimes contained corn mummies. Corn
grain was mixed with soil and wrapped in linen bandages in the form of a
mummy. The figure was given a facemask made of wax. The inclusion of corn
in the funerary equipment enabled resurrection to take place, as Osiris was
also a fertility god who made the corn grow.
Ptah is the creator god of Memphis8 who devised the opening of the mouth
ceremony; this elaborate ritual involved touching the mummy’s mouth with a
forked instrument. It was believed to bring the corpse back to life so that it
can become a vessel for the ka of the deceased. He was identified with Osiris
as early as the Old Kingdom (3100 – 2686 BC).
Sokar is a hawk god from Memphis who was also associated with Ptah.
The gods were unified as Ptah-Sokar-Osiris during the Middle Kingdom (2055
– 1650 BC). The god’s crown is composed of ram’s horns, reeds, ostrich
feathers and a sun disc.
See 2 on map
Ancient Egyptian metal figures
These figures are opposite the Benin plaques. Bronze casting, using the
lost wax method, originated in Egypt. The copper required for the figures
was mined in the Eastern desert, the Sinai region and Nubia to the south
of Egypt. The video recording, which accompanies the Benin display,
shows the lost wax (“cire perdue”) method.
These figures are votives: they were offered to a deity in connection with a
vow. They date from the Greco-Roman or Ptolemaic period (305 – 30 BC).
The figures include Isis suckling her son Horus, Osiris, Ptah, Nefertum
and Hathor. There is also a cat, which may be offered in honour of the
goddess Bastet and a bull, representing Apis.
Ptah – patron deity of metal smiths
Nefertum – lord of the perfumes
Hathor – goddess of music
Bastet – goddess of the town Bubastis
Apis – sacred bull associated with Ptah
8
Memphis: capital during the early Dynastic period (3100 – 2686 BC) and during the Old Kingdom,
(2686 – 2181BC)
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
11
See 3-7 on map
Ancient Egypt in the Music Gallery
music
Music and dancing was a popular pastime, and entertainment at feasts and
banquets formed part of religious rituals. Musicians were professional and usually
women of fairly high status. There is no evidence of a recognisable musical
notation having been used but the words of many songs and hymns have
survived.
In the gallery you will see the following instruments which are similar to the
instruments which might have been used by the Ancient Egyptians.
Childhood and Learning
No 10 vessel rattle, El Amarna, Egypt; c. 1360 BC
No 82 To the right of the numbered object you will see a sistrum. Ancient
Egyptian sistra were made of metal. The Hathor head in the African
Worlds gallery is part of a handle of a sistrum.
Adulthood and Survival
No 27 Tanbur, long-necked flute and nahun, plectrum; from Uzbekistan
No 34 Doira, frame drum; Uzbekistan
Death and Remembrance
No 18 Tambourine used in churches, Kenya
No 30 Rababa, lyre used in zar ceremonies, Eritrea
Trading sounds
No 57 setar, lute; Iran
No 59 tanbura, lyre; Bedouin people, Aswan,
Egypt, before 1963
Listening to Order
No 11 Concussion plaques of bone in the form
of a pair of hands; Egypt c. 1450 BC.
Given by Sir Flinders Petrie.
No 183 Beganna, lyre; Amhara people, Ethiopia
No 184 Endongo eya soga, lyre; Ganda
people, Uganda
No 236 arched harp, Sudan
No 237 arched harp, Uganda
Ancient Egypt Introduction
© Horniman Museum 2009
12
pre-visit activities
Pre-visit activities
Animal gods Find pictures of animals that live in Egypt. Find out about the gods who were
identified with these animals. Make a poster showing the links.
Why did the Egyptians make the jackal into a god?
Mummification Read Herodotus’ account of mummification. Find out about other conditions that
preserve bodies, e.g. mummies found in Russia and Central America, or bodies
found in peat bogs in the British Isles.
How have these conditions preserved the bodies?
Creation In the Museum you will see the goddess Nut on the inside of a coffin lid.
Read the story of the Egyptian creation myth.
Compare this with other creation myths
(e.g. of the Ancient Greeks).
Walk like an Egyptian Take close-up photographs of Egyptian figures on the objects
for your class to act out during or after your visit.
Looking at objects Being able to examine objects and question them is a skill that can be learned in
the classroom before a visit. We can find out a lot about objects and what they were
used for just by looking at them. Use the object Investigation sheet on page 14.
Start this type of investigation in class by selecting some every-day objects for
small groups of students to look at. They should try to forget everything they know
about the object and just concentrate on what they can find out about it from a
close examination.
They could focus on colour, shape, size and materials it is made from. They might
also like to think about whether they can tell what it might be used for and who
might have used it.
Questions like these can be transferred to the Museum setting, getting pupils to
closely examine the archaeological artefacts on display.
Ancient Egypt Pre-visit activities
© Horniman Museum 2009
13
object investigation
Object investigation
Worksheet to develop questioning skills
What colour is it?
.........................................................
What shape is it?
.........................................................
Is it whole?
.........................................................
.........................................................
(are bits missing?)
s
g
What materials is it
made from?
(wood, plaster, fabric,
stone, clay)
.........................................................
.........................................................
How do you think this
object was used?
.........................................................
.........................................................
Who do you think
might have used it
and why?
.........................................................
.........................................................
Draw a picture of the object in the box.
Draw a close-up of some of the detail
on the object.
Ancient Egypt Pre-visit activities
© Horniman Museum 2009
14
at the museum
AFRICAN WORLDS
At the Museum
Canopic jars Find the canopic jars in the African Worlds gallery. In one of the boxes below draw
the jar. Look really closely at the jar and copy some of the hieroglyphics on it.
When you go back to school, look up what the other canopic jars look like. Draw
them in the other three boxes. Each jar had a different gods head and had something
different inside. Label the jars with the name of the god and the jars contents.
Ancient Egypt At the Museum
© Horniman Museum 2009
15
An Egyptian Tomb All of the objects in the last display case of Egyptian objects
come from an Egyptian tomb. Look at the picture below and
add in the missing objects by copying the objects in the display.
tomb
AFRICAN WORLDS
When you’ve drawn them in, label your picture.
People put objects the dead would need in the afterlife.
What else would you put into a tomb?
Add your ideas to your picture.
Ancient Egypt At the Museum
© Horniman Museum 2009
16
Wish list Find the metal figures in the gallery
(opposite the Benin brasses and near to the Ijele mask).
wish
What are the three
things these figures
can be made from?
AFRICAN WORLDS
These figures were used by Egyptians as offerings when they made a wish or
asked for something from the gods.
W ...................................................
M ...................................................
P ...................................................
Draw one of the
figures in the space.
What would your wish be?
Write it in the thought bubble.
Ancient Egypt At the Museum
© Horniman Museum 2009
17
Egyptian Gods Look really closely at all the objects in the Egyptian cases,
what can you see?
gods
Thoth
How many times
can you see the ibis
headed god
of wisdom?
Anubis
Anubis is said to be the
god of mummification.
..................
Draw the mummy
on display in the
box below.
Find the Scarlet
Ibis in the Natural
History gallery.
Osiris
Horus
This symbol is the eye of
Horus (wadjet). Egyptians
thought it would protect
them from evil.
On which objects
can you see this
symbol?
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
AFRICAN WORLDS
Osiris is the King of the
dead and looks after
everyone who has died.
Look closely at how
he is dressed.
What does it
remind you of?
Can you find a scene like this
anywhere on the objects?
Ancient Egypt At the Museum
© Horniman Museum 2009
18
Animal Mummies The ancient Egyptians believed that some animals were sacred or
holy because they stood for various gods. Some people would bring
presents of mummified animals for the gods when they went to
worship them.
animal
Look at the pictures below and see if you can find the animal which
has been mummified in the Natural History gallery.
When you’ve found them match the picture
with the animals name by drawing an arrow.
Baboon
Ibis
Cat
Bull
Falcon
Crocodile
Ancient Egypt At the Museum
© Horniman Museum 2009
19
Afterlife
after
life
The scene in this picture shows the weighing of the heart ceremony. When an
Egyptian died they went to the underworld where they would have their heart
weighed to see if they had been good or bad during their life.
If they were good – their heart was lighter than the feather of truth and they would
go to the afterlife.
If they were bad – their heart was heavier than the feather of truth and their heart
would be eaten by Ammut and they had to stay in the underworld.
Draw a comic strip
of the weighing of
the heart ceremony
in the boxes.
Add speech and
thought bubbles to
the characters in
the story.
Was your main
character good or
bad in their lifetime?
Does Ammut get to
eat their heart?
What will they say
to Osiris when they
meet him?
Ancient Egypt At the Museum
© Horniman Museum 2009
20
post-visit activities
Post-visit activities
Roll up! Roll up! Mr Horniman has just come back from his fortnight in Egypt where he bought the
objects you saw in the Museum.
Design an advertisement for the local newspaper about the new
display of Ancient Egyptian objects at the Horniman Museum.
I was there…
“I was there when they unwrapped the mummy.”
Mr Horniman invited people to a talk about mummies. He gave permission for one
of the mummies to be unwrapped during the talk.
Pretend that you were at the talk and write a diary entry
about your evening.
See the attached source for newspaper clippings about the event.
A complete set Look at your drawing of the canopic jar you made at the Museum. It is one of a set
of four. The other 3 have animal heads.
Find out what the other three look like and add them to your
sheet to complete the set.
Find out what goes inside each jar and label it with information
about its contents and the names of the protecting gods.
Walk like an Egyptian
From the photographs you took at the Museum,
ask your pupils to choose a pose and strike it.
See if other people in the class can guess who they are trying to copy.
Maybe a group of students would like to make a frieze of a scene found on
some of the obejcts, for example to weighing of the heart ceremony found
on the coffin lid.
Ancient Egypt Post-visit activities
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Unwrapping the Mummy
Extract from “The Horniman Free Museum Seventh Annual Report 1897”
Events of the Year, 1897
“On February 24th Mr Horniman presided
reference to the date of the operation, etc,
at a lecture, given before the Dulwich
the month corresponding with our March.
Scientific and Literary Association by Mr
The bandages being removed, the body was
H W Mengedoht, on “Mummies and their
exposed. The brain had been extracted through
History.” After giving a very graphic account of
the nostrils, and the viscera from the abdomen
the different methods of embalming, and how
by an incision in the left side, and returned into
these varied at different periods, he proceeded
the cavity, which was filled with the dust of
to illustrate his subject, by unrolling, with the
some bitter wood. The nails on both hands and
assistance of Mr Quick, the mummy which
feet were perfect, and had been stained with
Mr Horniman had kindly lent for the occasion
hennah. No scarabei or other ornaments were
from the Museum collection.
found upon it, and the lecturer declared it to
be a Memphite mummy of the period of about
The body was first removed from the case of
1500 BC. It was that of a woman of about sixty
painted sycamore, and placed on the table. The
years of age.
mummy measured a little over five feet in its
bandages. The ancient Egyptians were short
On the lid of the coffin the name was given of
in stature. Over the whole of the bandages
Peta-Amen-Neb-Nest-Taiu, who was a priestess
was a kind of shroud bound with tape-like
of Amen-Ra and daughter of an officer of high
strips, passing around and across diagonally.
rank at Thebes (whose mummy is now in the
The bandages were numerous and of different
British Museum).
texture, applied with great neatness and
precision. The limbs were separately bandaged.
Mr Horniman gave to each of the visitors
On the ends of two of the bandages some
present a small sample of the mummy cloth, as
hieroglyphical characters were found, bearing
a souvenir of the occasion.”
Additional excerpts from another newspaper report….
“He (Mr Mengedoht) had made careful search for ornaments and writings from the Book of the Dead, but
found none. The mummies head, which had come off the trunk, was stuffed with gum and myrrh…”
“the lecturer added, with a smile, it was impossible now to state the cause of death…”
“The cavity of the chest was stuffed with sawdust and aromatics….”
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From local newspapers…(with original spelling and punctuation!)
Mummies and Their History
– A Unique Illustration
it is needless to state, proved a great attraction,
“A more effective or unique illustration of
master of the subject.
and lent force to the explanations given by
the Lecturer, who appeared to be a thorough
a lecture could not possibly be than that
which took place in Lordship Lane Hall on
Mr Fredk. John Horniman, M.P., who
Wednesday night, when Mr H W Mengedoht
received a most cordial reception, said it was
discoursed on “Mummies and their History.”
indeed a pleasure to him to introduce to
Mr Fredk. John Horniman, M.P., presided,
them a gentleman who was quite an authority
and kindly permitted a Mummy, upwards of
upon the subject which they sought to have
three thousand years old, from his Museum
elucidated that night. As the lecture, however,
to be unrolled in order to demonstrate the
would be a somewhat lengthy one it would
pains taken by the ancient Egyptians in
be unfair on his part to take up the time, and
preserving the bodies of their notable dead. In
therefore he would merely ask Mr Mengedoht
the Horniman Free Museum there are many
to deliver his lecture.
of these Mummies which have been secured
from the tombs in the great pyramids of Egypt,
Mr Mengedoht, who was loudly cheered,
and Mr Mengedoht was very fortunate indeed
said Mummies differed at various periods.
in being permitted to illustrate his lecture
The mummies from Thebes were very pliable
so realistically as was the case through the
and were in nine cases out of ten Priests
kindneas of Mr Horniman, who once again
or Priestesses. No expense was spared in
showed his willingness to assist in anything
embalming them, in fact the process adopted
tending towards the enlightenment of the
at this period was a very expensive one. The
people. Very little is known at the present time
Mummies of Memphite would last for ever.
regarding the mummification of the dead as
They were worked in pitch to such an extent
practised by the Ancients, but the Mummies
that the pitch very often impregnated the skin
recovered from the tombs have thrown such a
and flesh to such a degree that one could not
powerful light upon early civilisation that any
tell the difference between the pitch and the
further information is welcomed and highly
other part of the body. In one instance he had
appreciated by the men of research. In addition
had to use a chopper in order to cut off the legs
to the Mummy were also many other Ancient
of one of this class of Mummy. The Mummy
Egyptian articles from the Museum, and which,
of the Macedonian period differed from the
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From local newspapers… (continued)
two just quoted. There was no such thing as
supposed to be played by the figures which
pitch used in the process of mummification,
generally accompanied the Mummies. The
and there was no pliability. These Mummies
process of unrolling the Mummy was then
were nearly always preserved in honey. The
proceeded with, and from time to time Mr
bodies were doubled up in a way as to permit
Mengedoht came upon information which
their being placed in a jar, and over them
he imparted to the audience. It was wrapped
poured liquid honey and wax. The preserving
in several hundred yards of cloth, and when
power of honey was very great. He himself had
nearing the body the Lecturer stated that it
experimented in this way. He placed a mouse
was a Memphite Mummy of the period about
in honey and left it there for two and a half
1,500 B.C. When the body came to view it
years, and he could assure them that at the
created much curiosity. An inscription was
end of that period it was taken out in as good
found which, said the Lecturer, was written in
a condition as when placed there, there being
a priest’s hand. Mr Mengedoht explained the
not the slightest sign of decomposition. He
conditions under which he found the different
then described very lucidly the means adopted
parts, and stated that the mummy was that
in mummification, showing how the methods
of a woman between 60 or 70 years of age.
varied at different periods. He then went on
At the conclusion of the lecture the audience
to state that mummification was killed on the
were asked to inspect the Mummy, and almost
introduction of Christianity into Egypt. It
without exception the vast assembly accepted
was supposed by the ancient Egyptians that
the invitation. Hearty votes of thanks were
after thousands of years the soul would return
accorded the Chairman and Lecturer on the
to the body, and that was why they were so
motion of Mr J. R. Manning, who said how
particular in preserving the bodies of their
deeply they were indebted to Mr Horniman for
dead. As soon as they were taught to believe
the loan of the Mummy, and to Mr Mengedoht
in the resurrection they realised that it was
for the treat he had offered them that night.
useless to embalm, and they at once began
to practise economy. He then described the
Mr Horniman kindly presented each person
coffins of different periods, and explained how
with a small portion of the cloth with which
they varied in shape from time to time, and
the Mummy had been wrapped.”
then enlightened the audience as to the parts
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