The mummies
Transcript of The mummies
THE MUMMIES
Ma’am Asra Khan
BS-BIOTECHNOLOGY(IV-Semester)
Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
B.Z.U. Multan
Group # 3
Faraz Ahmad BS-BT-11Tooba Maqbool BS-BT-20Ejaz-ul-hassan BS-BT-27Zahra Naz BS-BT-04Sheeba Rauf BS-BT-19Bushara Rafique BS-BT-18Faiza Shauqat BS-BT-23
A mummy is the body of a person or animal that has been preserved after death.
A withered, shrunken, or well-preserved body that resembles an embalmed body
“Mummy” comes from the Persian and Arabic words that describe bitumen
Bitumen a black substance that comes from the Mumya Mountain in Persia
Arabs first saw mummies named them bitumen due to black waxy looking substance on mummies
MUMMY
Mummification was a feature of ancient cultures in areas of South America and AsiaThe oldest known naturally mummified human corpse is a severed head mummy which is 6,000 years old in South America.Mummies of humans and other animals have been found on every continent, both as a result of natural preservation through unusual conditions, and as cultural artifactsMummies were formed due to environmental conditions like lack of air, heat, cold and dry sand in which body was buried
DISCOVERY OF MUMMIESMost of the mummy discoveries are in EgyptA few discoveries about mummies were also in areas of South America, Africa, Asia.Discovered mummies are mostly artificially mummified
Nicknamed for its red hair, “Ginger”The most famous of six naturally mummified bodiesExcavated in the late 19th century from shallow graves in the Egyptian desertOn display at the British Museum from 1901The first mummy to be exhibited in publicGinger is the oldest known mummies in existence, dating back to about 3400 B.C. Its body was naturally dried and preserved by the warm sand in which it was buried
GINGER
Female pharaoh, Hatshepsut reigned over Egypt for two decades
died in 1458 B.C.The archaeologist Howard Carter
discovered her royal tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1902
Molar tooth found in a wooden box bearing Hatshepsut’s name showed her queen
HATSHEPSUT
Ancient Egypt’s “boy king”Became pharaoh at the age of nine and ruled
for 10 years Was known as Tutankhamen–or “King Tut” in 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter found
his tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the KingsThe tomb was crammed with a wealth of
ancient treasures including jewelry, gilded shrines and a solid gold funerary mask
KING TUTANKHAMEN
Egypt’s most powerful pharaohRamesses II reigned for six decades Lived to be over 90 years old He is said to have 100 childrenHis body was originally entombed in the
Valley of the Kings In 1881, Ramesses II’s mummy was
discovered in a secret royal cache In 1974, archeologists noticed its
deteriorating condition and flew it to Paris, where it was treated for a fungal infection
Ramesses II was issued an Egyptian passport, which listed his occupation as “King (deceased).”
RAMESSES II
Located in Egypt’s Western DesertThe Bahariya Oasis was a major agricultural
center during ancient times In 1996, a guard was riding his donkey on
the temple’s grounds. Suddenly, the donkey’s leg stumbled into a hole, revealing an opening in the desert floor and the edge of a tomb
A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Zahi Hawass began excavations there, known as the Valley of the Golden Mummies
VALLEY OF THE GOLDEN MUMMIES
This uncovered several hundred mummies as well as a treasure
The diversity of the mummies showed that the site served as the final resting place for every level of society
(including wealthy merchants, members of the middle class and poor inhabitants)
Archeologists believe that as many as 10,000 additional mummies may be lying under the sand.
HISTORY OF THE MUMMIES Egyptians began to burry their dead ones in coffins.Body decomposed in coffin.Here arouse the concept of artificial mummificationEgyptians practiced mummification for nearly 2,000 yearsIn start, mummification was only for the rich peopleWith passage of time, mummification became less expensive.
Mummification started naturally and spontaneouslyBodies were placed in shallow oval gravesHeat and dryness of sands dehydrated the bodyMajority of natural mummified bodies were found as skeletonized bodies
REASONS OF MUMMIFICATIONThere were several reasons for which Egyptians and others nations of past started mummification.These are:Life after deathFalse believesReligion Immortality
LIFE AFTER DEATHEgyptians believed that after death, their soul left their body.The soul then would return and be reunited with the body after it was buried.However, the soul needed to be able to find and to recognize the body in order to live forever.Therefore, it was necessary to preserve the body.
Egyptians believe that death was not the end of one’s life as there is a life called after life
The afterlife was prettier than life on earth so they preserve the bodies
They also used to mummify them with all the jewelry, and weapons that they would need in the afterlife
FALSE BELIEVES
Religion was important basic of the mummification process
Most who were mummified were kings and pharaohs who were thought to be most religious
Religious people had to preserved after death to get their blessings
So, mummifying them was much important
RELIGION
It was believed that the Pharaoh would go into the heavens and join his father
His family and high ranking officers could also attain immortality
It was through the favor of the Pharaoh, that people of the Old Kingdom had a chance at immorality.
Pharaho Mummy
IMMORTALITY
MUMMIFICATIONInvolves the procedure to make a mummy of dead person. It involves the following steps:
Cleaning ProcessRemoval Of Internal OrgansDrying ProcessOiling Of BodyStuffing Of BodyWrapping Of BodyFinal Wrapping Of BodyFuneralReligious Rituals
1. CLEANING PROCESSFirst, his body was taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There the embalmers washed his body with good-smelling palm wine
.
2. REMOVAL OF INTERNAL ORGANSOne of the embalmer’s men made a cut in the left side of the body and removed many of the internal organs. It was important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose.
The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines were washed and packed in natron (A natural salt used to dry out dead bodies and internal organs in the mummification process)
The heart was not taken out of the body because it was the centre of intelligence and feeling and the man would need it in the afterlife.A long hook was used to smash the brain and to pull it out through the nose.
The body was then covered and stuffed with natron which would dry it out.
All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process were saved and buried along with the body.
3. DRYING PROCESS
After forty days the body was washed again with water. Then it was covered with oils to help the skin stay elastic.
4. OILING OF DEAD BODY
The dehydrated internal organs were wrapped in linen and placed in the canopic jars. The body was stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike. Finally the body was covered again with good-smelling oils. It was now ready to be wrapped in linen.
5. STUFFING PROCESS
Imsety the human-headed god looks after the liver.
Hapy the baboon-heded god looks after the lungs.
Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomach
Qebehsenuef the falcon-headed god looks after the intestines.
First the head and neck were wrapped with strips of fine linen. Then the fingers and the toes were individually wrapped.
6. WRAPPING PROCESS
The arms and legs were wrapped separately. Between the layers of wrapping, the embalmers used to place amulets to protect the body in its journey through the underworld.
This was the 'Isis knot' amulet which would protect the body
This was the 'Plummet' amulet which would keep the person balanced in the next life.
The arms and legs were tied together.
More linen strips were wrapped around the body. At every layer, the bandages were painted with liquid resin that helped to glue the bandages together.
A priest read holy verses loudly while the mummy was being wrapped. These spells would help ward off evil spirits and help the deceased made his journey to the afterlife.
Finally, a large cloth was wrapped around the entire mummy. It was attached with strips of linen that run from the top to the bottom of the mummy, and around its middle.
7. FINAL WRAPPING OF THE BODY
A ritual called the 'Opening of the Mouth' was performed, allowing the deceased to eat and drink again.Finally, the body and its coffins were placed inside a large stone sarcophagus in the tomb. Furniture, clothing, valuable objects, food and drink were arranged in the tomb for the deceased.
8. RELIGIOUS RITUALS
Now his body is ready for its journey through the underworld. There his heart will be judged by his good deeds on earth.
TYPES OF MUMMIESMummies are typically divided into one of two distinct categories: Anthropogenic MummiesSpontaneous Mummies
Spontaneous Mummy
Anthropogenic Mummy
Created by the living for any number of reasons, the most common being for religious purposes
Mummification of bodies was a natural process used in Egypt and other cultures
Where the dryness of the sand or salts in which the body was buried, the heat or coldness of the climate, or the absence of air in the burial helped preserve the body
ANTHROPOGENIC MUMMIES
Created unintentionally or due to natural conditions such as extremely dry heat or cold, or anaerobic conditions
An example of spontaneous mummification is the 1950's discovery of the Tollund Man who was buried in a peat bog in Europe. The natural acid of the bog along with other natural elements caused the body to become mummified
SPONTANEOUS MUMMIES
PRESERVATION OF MUMMIESAfter complete wrapping of Mummy, it is preserved in different ways but four methods were prominent.After wrapping they bury the mummy in soil and mark them.Sometime after wrapping the mummy they used to kept in a coffin and bury whole of the coffin in soil.
They also bury the coffin amongst stones in a pyramid.
The coffins of Kings were not buried. They illustrate in a pyramid for the worship.
MUMMY MUSEUMMummies discovered from different
areas of world are kept in museums of
different countries e.g.
1. Egyptian Museum, Egypt
2. British Museum, London
3. Penn Museum
4. Brooklyn Museum, Egypt
5. World Museum, Egypt
BRITISH MUSEUMMummification investigated through objects display in ROOM 62-631300 year old mummies are present.Age range at the time of death: 2-50 year.2004: unique project to unlock the secret of 3000 year old mummies
THE EGYPTIAN MUSEUMWas Established in 1891Contains12,000 itemsDuring Egyptian revolution (2012) two mummies were reported to be destroyedMuseum mainly have 2 floors
MUMMIFICATION IN MODERN ERA
A few years before, mummification was thought specific for the people of old centuries.21st century, a few people wished to be mummified after their death.Old time mummies formed due to religious as well as cultural reasons
JEREMY BENTHAMWished to be mummified after his deathFounder of utilitarianismHis body ,out fitted with wax head created because of problems preparing it as Bentham requested
Died in January, 2008In 1975 , an organization by the name of
SUMMUM introduced “Modern Mummification”.
First person undergo “SUMMUM Process Of Modern Mummification” was the founder of SUMMUM.
SUMMUM
Died in 2010 Mummified using techniques based on 19
year of researchHe made the decision after being diagnosed
with cancer in 2009His body present at “London's Gordon”
museum
ALAN BILLS
MUMMIES & SCIENCEMummies are well-preserved bodiesIngredients used for mummification preserved the body for a long time Mummies are studied in detail by using modern technique which are: Radiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging-MRI Computed Tomography-CT Scan Mass Spectroscopy DNA Analysis Proteomics
X-rays discovery by W. RoentgenX-rays imaging (X-I) of mummiesX-I revealedWrapping clothes or linen of mummykinds of health problems the personDiseasesDental IssuesFractures Traumatic Wounds
RADIOLOGY
Started a few years agoResults suggested:Periodontal diseasesDental Cavities Evidence of numerous other health issuesBone disorders InfectionsTraumasAntherosclerosis
COMPUTED TOPOGRAPHY
Chemical analysis technique used to sort out types of atoms and molecules in sample
Mostly applied to hair samples of mummiesSamples may be clothes, tissues, etc.Provides information aboutSpecific molecules & their concentration in
body e.g. narcotics.Clothing of the very well studied Iceman Ötzi
’s mummyHis coat and pants were made of sheepskin
MASS SPECTROMETRY
Provide a wealth of information about:Diseases Gender Family relationships Genetic correlation between individuals
DNA ANALYSIS
Mainly used to know about diseases and infectionsProteomics of a woman’s mummy showed that
she had severe lung infection
PROTEOMICS
A process used to make the faces of mummiesPlastic is used as alternative of water and fats
PLASTINATION
Other techniques used to study mummiesEndoscopy (the study of the internal body
using a flexible tube)Histology (microscopic study of tissues) Imunocytochemistry (a method to look for
antigens associated with particular parasites).
OTHER TECHNIQUES