F-1, The Canopic jars of king Tutankhamen.
The evisceration which is the removal of the viscera became widely spread since the old kingdom period, where they started to store four specific organs into the Canopic jars”f-1”. The four chosen organs for evisceration were always, the stomach, the intestines, the liver and the lungs and it was practiced since the old kingdom. The removal of those organs, indicate the early knowledge about the fungal-bacterial damage which occurs in the early post-mortem phase for the corpse. The ancient Egyptian embalmer should have known about the disadvantage of keeping the viscera attached to the mummy so the removal for the stomach and the intestines can prevent the deterioration which is normally caused by the bacteria and the gases, the removal of the lungs can prevent keeping the oxygen in the corpse which never allow the fungi and the bacteria to breed and certainly the liver had to be removed as it naturally functions to strain poisons and germs and may store it. The Canopic jars lids generally take the shapes of the four sons of Horus who were believed to be the patrons of the mummy organs. Imset who has a human shape is thought to protect the liver, Hapi, who has a baboon shape, is thought to protect the lungs, Duamutef who takes the shape of a jackal is counted to protect the stomach and Qebehsnuf, who is given the falcon shape is believed to protect the intestines. The Egyptian Museum has the oldest viscera remains which belong to Queen Hetepheres, which is about 2500 B.C. the Queen was the mother of King Cheops and wife of king Snefru.
F-2,The four sons of Horus who were believed to be the patrons of the mummy organs. Imset ,Hapi , Duamutef and Qebehsnuf.
We may know the reason beyond the removal of the four visceral organs but we do not have yet a scientific reason to explain the reason behind the removal of the brain! The brain was removed in more than %80 percent of Egyptian mummies in a very specific way which is based on drilling the skull from the top and also penetrating the nostrils to evacuate the air. The Egyptian museum has more than a set of surgical instruments which some of it were used by the embalmers. The most famous instrument among is the hook which was used for emptying the skull from the brain. In fact, the brain never been the last organ to remove as every other organ had to be removed except of the heart and kidneys.
F-3, The surgical set of Komombo temple.
The surgical set of Komombo temple”F-3” has instruments such as hooks, needles and saws which are required for running the mummification process.
F-4, model shows the spots in the head where the surgery occurs.
Model”F-4” shows the spots in the head where the surgery occurs. Number -1 is the opening in the top of the skull which is followed by number-2 which is a drill in the nostrils. Both of 1&2 aim at removing the brain. Number-3 is the eyes removal. Model F-5 explains where the surgical incisions should be made by the embalmer. Three spot on F-5 occupy the left side of the torso , the upper one is incision of the thoracic cavity which helps to extract the lungs, the medium incision in the abdominal cavity helps in the entrails and the stomach removal, then the lower one which is done in the pelvic cavity helps much in removing the rest of organs with the minimal damage.
F-5, shows the usual spots where the embalmer makes his surgical cuts.
Osiris, F-6, according to the Egyptian mythology was the ruler of the north of Egypt in the very early start of Egyptian history. Osiris was a descendant of gods as well as his brother Seth who ruled the south of Egypt, then after Osiris regicide by Seth his body was mummified and he became the god of the underworld.
F-6. Osiris the god of death and the first mummy.
Then God Osiris managed to exceed in power most of his rivals and had the Imnty domain under his control. The rise of Osiris as the lord of the underworld or the west had synchronized with the flourishing of the mummification as seemed to become the most social as well as popular god for commoners. Osiris managed to offer equality of treatment and justice between the very poor and very rich even he became a phase that every deceased had to turn to and according to book of the dead everyone after death should become Osiris or take the form of Osiris. By Yasser Kamel for Museumegypt,Copyright@museumegypt. All rights reserved.
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