按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
manner of divination however is not established among them according to
the same fashion everywhere； but is different in different places。 The art of
medicine among them is distributed thus：each physician is a physician of
one disease and of no more； and the whole country is full of physicians；
for some profess themselves to be physicians of the eyes； others of the
head； others of the teeth； others of the affections of the stomach； and
others of the more obscure ailments。
Their fashions of mourning and of burial are these：Whenever any
household has lost a man who is of any regard amongst them； the whole
38
… Page 39…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
number of women of that house forthwith plaster over their heads or even
their faces with mud。 Then leaving the corpse within the house they go
themselves to and fro about the city and beat themselves； with their
garments bound up by a girdle and their breasts exposed； and with them go
all the women who are related to the dead man； and on the other side the
men beat themselves； they too having their garments bound up by a girdle；
and when they have done this； they then convey the body to the
embalming。 In this occupation certain persons employ themselves
regularly and inherit this as a craft。 These； whenever a corpse is conveyed
to them； show to those who brought it wooden models of corpses made
like reality by painting； and the best of the ways of embalming they say is
that of him whose name I think it impiety to mention when speaking of a
matter of such a kind； the second which they show is less good than this
and also less expensive； and the third is the least expensive of all。 Having
told them about this； they inquire of them in which way they desire the
corpse of their friend to be prepared。 Then they after they have agreed for
a certain price depart out of the way； and the others being left behind in the
buildings embalm according to the best of these ways thus：First with the
crooked iron tool they draw out the brain through the nostrils； extracting it
partly thus and partly by pouring in drugs； and after this with a sharp stone
of Ethiopia they make a cut along the side and take out the whole contents
of the belly； and when they have cleared out the cavity and cleansed it
with palm…wine they cleanse it again with spices pounded up： then they fill
the belly with pure myrrh pounded up and with cassia and other spices
except frankincense； and sew it together again。 Having so done they keep
it for embalming covered up in natron for seventy days； but for a longer
time than this it is not permitted to embalm it； and when the seventy days
are past； they wash the corpse and roll its whole body up in fine linen cut
into bands； smearing these beneath with gum； which the Egyptians use
generally instead of glue。 Then the kinsfolk receive it from them and have
a wooden figure made in the shape of a man； and when they have had this
made they enclose the corpse； and having shut it up within； they store it
then in a sepulchral chamber； setting it to stand upright against the wall。
Thus they deal with the corpses which are prepared in the most costly way；
39
… Page 40…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
but for those who desire the middle way and wish to avoid great cost they
prepare the corpse as follows： having filled their syringes with the oil
which is got from cedar… wood； with this they forthwith fill the belly of the
corpse； and this they do without having either cut it open or taken out the
bowels； but they inject the oil by the breech； and having stopped the
drench from returning back they keep it then the appointed number of days
for embalming； and on the last of the days they let the cedar oil come out
from the belly； which they before put in； and it has such power that it
brings out with it the bowels and interior organs of the body dissolved；
and the natron dissolves the flesh； so that there is left of the corpse only
the skin and the bones。 When they have done this they give back the
corpse at once in that condition without working upon it any more。 The
third kind of embalming； by which are prepared the bodies of those who
have less means； is as follows：they cleanse out the belly with a purge and
then keep the body for embalming during the seventy days； and at once
after that they give it back to the bringers to carry away。 The wives of men
of rank when they die are not given at once to be embalmed； nor such
women as are very beautiful or of greater regard than others； but on the
third or fourth day after their death （and not before） they are delivered to
the embalmers。 They do so about this matter in order that the embalmers
may not abuse their women； for they say that one of them was taken once
doing so to the corpse of a woman lately dead； and his fellow…craftsman
gave information。 Whenever any one； either of the Egyptians themselves
or of strangers； is found to have been carried off by a crocodile or brought
to his death by the river itself； the people of any city by which he may
have been cast up on land must embalm him and lay him out in the fairest
way they can and bury him in a sacred burial…place； nor may any of his
relations or friends besides touch him； but the priests of the Nile
themselves handle the corpse and bury it as that of one who was
something more than man。
Hellenic usages they will by no means follow； and to speak generally
they follow those of no other men whatever。 This rule is observed by most
of the Egyptians； but there is a large city named Chemmis in the Theban
district near Neapolis； and in this city there is a temple of Perseus the son
40
… Page 41…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
of Danae which is of a square shape； and round it grow date…palms： the
gateway of the temple is built of stone and of very great size； and at the
entrance of it stand two great statues of stone。 Within this enclosure is a
temple…house and in it stands an image of Perseus。 These people of
Chemmis say that Perseus is wont often to appear in their land and often
within the temple； and that a sandal which has been worn by him is found
sometimes； being