Mummification Process

Mummification Process

Mummification was developed by the ancient Egyptians to preserve the body for the afterlife. Typically, all internal organs are removed before mummification, except the heart. But in this case, the heart is removed, and the lungs are left intact. Next, the body is covered with salt and left for about 40 days, until all moisture is eliminated. Perfumed oils and plant resins are rubbed on the body. Thick layers of resin are applied to glue the strips of linen that were wrapped around the body. The mummy is placed on a wooden board and more wrappings bound them together. A mysterious pouch, perhaps of religious significance, is placed on the chest. A mummified ibis*, a wading bird with a slender, down-curved bill, is placed on the abdomen. Ibis mummies commonly served as votive offerings to the gods, but this is an unusual case of a bird being mummified with a deceased human. Long linen strips further secured the wrappings. Large linen cloth was wrapped around the mummy. The shroud is painted red with an imported lead-based pigment. This treatment is rare, very few red shroud mummies exist. Egyptian symbols of protection and rebirth are painted on the outer cloth with pigments and gold. After the mummification process is completed, if the person is a king, they are placed in three coffins, one of which is gold and the other wooden, and the 70-day mummification process is completed. 

*Ibis-The unusual covering of a votive ibis mummy—a shell of linen and plaster—reproduces the bird's long beak and head, with glass beads added for eyes. Millions of votive ibis mummies were dedicated in Egypt during the first millennium B.C. 

William Shakespeare - Julius Caesar

 William Shakespeare  

Julius Caesar 

 

William Shakespeare is a well-known writer who has continued to impress readers and audiences all over the world for nearly 400 years with his power to express the human condition in his plays and poems. The tragedy of Julius Caesar which is well-known, takes over one of the most famous assassinations of the world, yet this play differs from real history. Shakespeare focused on the inside of the characters, particularly Brutus and Caesar. He rebuilt their life, ideas and behaviours.  

 

The play has been interpreted as the struggle of Julius Caesar and his followers, who want to wear the imperial crown, and dictatorial tendencies are getting stronger with the republicans. From this perspective, Brutus is noble, a patriot, and an idealist, furthermore the assassination of Caesar is a rebellion. The betrayal of Brutus to Caesar means Roman is superior to all things. William Shakespeare created a new Caesar, his Caesar is a person both glorious like a god and weak like a people. Caesar's power and victories are respected by people. He is arrogant. Caesar who wants to show his power, does not listen to anyone, and he goes to die. Shakespeare may try to show us that arrogance is how bad thing (I do not want to share a spoiler).  

 

Shakespeare shows us Brutus. He is a good husband and a kind person. He is a patriot and people who want to kill Caesar, use his patriotism to kill Caesar. Brutus and Caesar have a good relationship. In Roman culture, an honourable image is fairly significant. Brutus thinks that it is necessary to give the image of the saviour instead of the murderer to legitimize the assassination of Caesar. 

 

Finally, was Caesar a tyrant who deserved to be killed, and was Brutus a saviour? We can see that Shakespeare uses more than one evaluation while he is editing his plays. I think we should avoid judging characters, and consider how complex human personality can be.  

Et tu, Brute?