The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-07-17
Anaersutt gatelligeneer.
AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN.
Unro1ling PenpI, Contemporary of Elijah
and Ahab.

AN ANCIENT EGYPT1AN.
Unro1ling PenpI, Contemporary of ElIjal
and Ahab.
About $50 persons, who had been in
yited to witness the removal of the mum
nv from its case, assembled in the anato-
mical lecture room anxiously awaiting
the ceremonies which were to be hello
over; an ancient Egyptian.
In the front of the room upon long
table stood the object toward which all
eyes were directed; the case, which was
covered with inscriptions and rude rep
reservations, had been cut into and ar
ranged in such manner as to facilitate
the work that was about to begin. Short
ly after 8 o'clock Prof. Tyler arose, and,
after a few Introductory remarks, spoke
substantially as follows:
"This mummy was presented to Presi.
dent White and the university by Mr.
Pomeroy, Consul General at Cairo: He
procured it at the metropolis, in Upper
Egypt, about a year ago, but was detained
at Thebes, by the ravages of the cholera
in Lower Egypt, until fall. At Cairo q
French scientist translated the hiero.
glyphics which are upon the case, from
which we learn that this mans name
was 'Penpi,' and that he lived in the
twenty.third dynasty.
sThere are different theories advanced
why the Egyptians embalmed the bodies
of their dead one, because it Was san
itary necessity; another, because they
could not bury them with safety. But
these theories hardly seem to be satisfac.
tory. BY the Inscriptions on tombs,
monuments, and on the mummies them.
selves, we learn that it was q sacred rite,
the expression of their faith and belief
in their religion, which at that time was
O pure faith !, they believed that life was
a conflict between good and evil, and
that mans destiny would Be settled by a
final Judgment, but evolution was silent.
" working in the Egyptian faith as well
as science, though downward instead OF
upward. IN consequence of this belief
the friends did all they could to make
the future Of the departed bright and
happy; and to protect him against the
attacks of the Evil One.
..sFrom these figures here on the case
:, We see that the friends of 'Penpp were
anxious to secure Srepose for his soul
here. ION his head is the sacred beetle.
/ around his neck is the representation oi
anecklace,s ON his breast is the figure OF q
yultnre holding two seals in his claws
an emblam of eternity-below is spar.
.row-hawk.s also holding aseal. From the
inscription we learn that .PenpI belonged
to the twenty:thirdr dynasty. Eight
hundred years B. q. kind friends laid
away. this body, which, ito all appearances,
has remained unharmed for nearly 8, 900
years. We can hardly comprehend that
this man lived before the first Olympiad,
nearly fifty years before the Legendary
founding of Rome, was contemporary
with the founding of Carthage; lived
200 years before Cyrus, 800 years before
Confucius, $50 years before, Julius Cesar
invaded Britain, 400 years after the
Trojan war, 100 years after. Homer, 222
wears before Solon,s 800 years before the
battle of Marathon, or In Jewish chronol.
ogy, 500 years after the exodus, 175 years
latter. Solomon, and was q contemporary
of Elijah, Elisha, and Ahab."
Prof. Tyler then introduced Prof.
Gage. who gave brief account OF the
method pursued by the Egyptians in
embalming: the. bodies of the dead. He
said ssThe process of embalming is very
simple, and is not, as is generally sup
posed, q lost art. After death the re-
mains were taken to the lower order of
priests, who removed the soft parts of the
body, which was then placed in q sort OF
brine and there soaked for seventy days /;
twas then removed, and resin, CHINA
mon, myrrb, &C., were applied, this was
followed by a thorough drying. Some.
: times the face was gilded, but only by
the most wealthy. The cost of embalm.
ing a BODY in this way was from 81 1000
to $4,000; after the drying process the
! body was wrapped, often 1000 yards OF
bandage being used.
s.The cage about this mummy is evil
IDENTIFY made of the same material as the
cloth wrappings but soaked in some
gum" ..V..s,
After the speaking the mummy was
taken from the case and the unwrapping
commenced. The bandages, which were
of yellowish color, about ten feet long
and four inches wide, were made of'linen
and fringed at the ends; they were put
on very symmetrically, one layer being
.crosswise, the, next up and down.
!. The head only was uncovered in the
presence of the visitors. This was found
to be in good state Of preservation !;
the hair had been shaven closely, but on
the back of the head a little could be
seen, which was of sandy color; the
beard also could be recognized. The
face was Of medium size, with a low
forehead, Roman nose, and rather high
cheek bones-altogether good looking
face, taking his age into consideration.
AS thessunwrapping was going on q
grain aof wheat; we'll preserved. was
found, Which was placed in bottle and
passed around that all might see.
Those present were asked to look at
the mummy as they passed out, an .op,,
portunity of which nearly all availed
themselves. After this the bandages
. were taken from the whole body. Be.
tween the legs parts of the viscera,
which had been taken from the body,
were found carefully wrapped in linen
cloth. The body was hard and Of dark
brown color, five feet;and FIVE inches in
height, and the nails of the fingers. md
toes we're as perfect as when the body
was placed in its narrow limits. A num-
ber of small beetles that had bored their
way through the case were found among
the bandages.
49, french Husband.
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