Lars Wilson
2008-01-19 12:32:34 UTC
Here's a statement regarding the unique embalming process using "resin" for
Amenhotep III:
The embalmers had packed the skin of the deceased king with a resinous
material, and Smith's description of this as being "analogous" to embalming
techniques used in the 21'st Dynasty led Douglas Derry to question the
identification of the mummy as being that of Amenhotep III. Edward Wente,
however, points out that the resinous material used here for packing was
quite unlike the materials employed by 21'st Dynasty embalmers. Long before
the controversy regarding the identity of this mummy had arisen, Smith
himself had noted (in the same report in RM that caused Derry's
uncertainties) that the method of packing used in Nebmaatre-Amenhotep's
mummy is altogether unique, and takes special care to distinguish it from
21'st Dynasty practices which, he goes on to explain, utilized linen, mud,
sand, sawdust, or mixtures of fat and soda for packing materials, but not
resins. Therefore, there is nothing about this mummy that would point to the
21'st Dynasty as the time of its original embalming.
Smith expresses the interesting theory that the novel style of embalming
used on the mummy of Amenhotep III (whose identity he doubts not in the
least) was part of the general cultural revolution sweeping Egypt toward the
end of the 18'th Dynasty and which culminated during the reign of Amenhotep
IV-Akhenaten. That resin-packing was not employed during the 19'th and 20'th
Dynasties is explainable in terms of the anti-Amarna reaction that set in
after Akhenaten's death.
http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/18B.htm)
I'm still researching this, but apparently resin is used as a connector and
solidifier. As noted above the use of resin was unique to the embalming of
the body of Amenhotep III. But the question is why? What was unique about
the body of Amenhotep III which prompted the embalmers to use resin in the
embalming process under the skin?
I think it would be safe to presume that there was "something uniquely
wrong" with this particular body at the time it was embalmed, that is, the
body was already damaged at the time of embalming to require resin.
My theory is, since we know Amenhotep III now was the pharoah who died in
the Red Sea, is that this probably had something to do with his perhaps
having been dead in the water for an extended period of time. His skin
might have been waterlogged and perhaps falling apart or perhaps extremely
wrinkled and the resin was used to help hold together the skin or smooth it
out or both. Maybe someone else can shed more light on this.
Also of note, the age of the body as determined by x-ray estimation was
about fifty years of age. So he didn't necessarily die of old age.
L.W.
Amenhotep III:
The embalmers had packed the skin of the deceased king with a resinous
material, and Smith's description of this as being "analogous" to embalming
techniques used in the 21'st Dynasty led Douglas Derry to question the
identification of the mummy as being that of Amenhotep III. Edward Wente,
however, points out that the resinous material used here for packing was
quite unlike the materials employed by 21'st Dynasty embalmers. Long before
the controversy regarding the identity of this mummy had arisen, Smith
himself had noted (in the same report in RM that caused Derry's
uncertainties) that the method of packing used in Nebmaatre-Amenhotep's
mummy is altogether unique, and takes special care to distinguish it from
21'st Dynasty practices which, he goes on to explain, utilized linen, mud,
sand, sawdust, or mixtures of fat and soda for packing materials, but not
resins. Therefore, there is nothing about this mummy that would point to the
21'st Dynasty as the time of its original embalming.
Smith expresses the interesting theory that the novel style of embalming
used on the mummy of Amenhotep III (whose identity he doubts not in the
least) was part of the general cultural revolution sweeping Egypt toward the
end of the 18'th Dynasty and which culminated during the reign of Amenhotep
IV-Akhenaten. That resin-packing was not employed during the 19'th and 20'th
Dynasties is explainable in terms of the anti-Amarna reaction that set in
after Akhenaten's death.
http://anubis4_2000.tripod.com/mummypages1/18B.htm)
I'm still researching this, but apparently resin is used as a connector and
solidifier. As noted above the use of resin was unique to the embalming of
the body of Amenhotep III. But the question is why? What was unique about
the body of Amenhotep III which prompted the embalmers to use resin in the
embalming process under the skin?
I think it would be safe to presume that there was "something uniquely
wrong" with this particular body at the time it was embalmed, that is, the
body was already damaged at the time of embalming to require resin.
My theory is, since we know Amenhotep III now was the pharoah who died in
the Red Sea, is that this probably had something to do with his perhaps
having been dead in the water for an extended period of time. His skin
might have been waterlogged and perhaps falling apart or perhaps extremely
wrinkled and the resin was used to help hold together the skin or smooth it
out or both. Maybe someone else can shed more light on this.
Also of note, the age of the body as determined by x-ray estimation was
about fifty years of age. So he didn't necessarily die of old age.
L.W.