A History of Egyptian Mummies
And an Account of the Worship and Embalming of the Sacred Animals by the Egyptians

This landmark 1834 work on mummification unites the twin passions of the surgeon and antiquarian Thomas Joseph Pettigrew (1791–1865).

Thomas Joseph Pettigrew (Author)

9781108066839, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 September 2013

304 pages, 9 b/w illus. 4 colour illus.
29.7 x 21 x 1.6 cm, 0.73 kg

First published in 1834, this work was an important early contribution to the emerging field of Egyptology in Britain. It united the twin passions of its author, the noted surgeon and antiquarian Thomas Joseph Pettigrew (1791–1865), who made a name for himself by unrolling and autopsying mummies: his London home was the scene of well-attended parties during which he would impress his guests with such displays. In the present work, Pettigrew delves into the history, technique and ritual of mummification in a depth that had never been attempted before, notably extending the coverage beyond ancient Egypt to other societies and eras. Describing the beliefs that informed these practices, the work also addresses the Egyptians' worship and embalming of animals such as bulls, dogs and hawks. Based on numerous examinations and years of study, this work stood as a landmark in the scientific and historical understanding of these funerary rites.

List of subscribers
Introduction
1. On mummy
2. On mummy as a drug
3. On the theology of the ancient Egyptians
4. On Egyptian tombs
5. On embalming
6. On the medicaments employed in embalming
7. On the bandages
8. On the Egyptian idols, amulets, ornaments, etc.
9. On the cases and sarcophagi
10. On the papyri manuscripts
11. On the physical history of the Egyptians
12. On the sacred animals embalmed by the Egyptians
13. On the sacred animals: the mammalia
14. On the sacred animals: the aves
15. On the sacred animals: amphibia, pisces, insecta
16. On deceptive specimens of mummies
17. On the guanches, the mummies of Peru, the desiccated bodies of Palermo, the Burman emblamings
18. On modern embalmings
Explanation of the plates.

Subject Areas: Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG]