2. B. Coffin containing a mummy of a man named
The decoration of the coffin and the manner of mummification of the body were both similar to 1. A. Some of the linen bandages had markings in light and dark blue, and red striated with dark blue running the whole length, woven into the stuff; and, like the others, many of the bandages were mended.[13]
The genealogy of these three persons was as follows:—
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Amenhetep-en-auf = Nanu-nes-her (of coffin 2. B) Pa-de-Khonsu = Maartu (of coffin 1. B) Pa-de-Amen (of coffin 1. A). |
The meaning of the bandages being in so many cases carefully darned and mended might be explained by the inscriptions found on the walls of the tombs of the New Kingdom—a part of the ritual and last words of the relatives before the mummy when depositing it for ever in the tomb. ‘Woe, woe.... Alas this loss! the good shepherd has gone to the land of Eternity; he who willingly opened his feet to going is now enclosed, bound, and confined. He who had so much fine linen, and so gladly put it on, sleeps now in the cast-off garments of yesterday.’[14] The mummy bandages are strips torn nearly in every case from larger pieces like shawls and garments.
The second group of coffins, 3. B to 7. B (see [Pl. XV]), are of slightly smaller dimensions, painted black, and of a much rougher type. Only one of them had traces of design upon it, and that was in yellow upon the black background. The mummies they contained, though in good preservation and simulating the others in fashion, did not in general display the same care as in the former series. The linen in which they were wrapped had similar markings and mends, but they were of a coarser nature, and in some cases the materials were quite worn and old rags.