A Mummy’s Herbal

mummyThe mummy is a popular figure from horror movies, but of course there are many cultures in the ancient world that mummified their dead. The best known of these “real” mummies are probably the Egyptian mummies. The ritual involved in making a mummy, especially the mummy of a wealthy person, was long and complex, and involved the use of many herbs and plants. Even though much of the process is a mystery to us today, some of the plants associated with mummification were noted by either ancient writers or identified by modern research.
Preparation of the Mummy

The single most significant event during the mummification process was dehydration of the corpse, and this was accomplished by using natron, a natural form of salt. However, the Egyptians did far more than just dehydrate the tissues of the body. Diodorus tells us that the body was cleaned with palm wine and spices; he doesn’t tell us which spices. Palm wine was made by steeping dates (Phoenix dactylifera) in water, pressing out the liquid, and allowing this to ferment. The body was then anointed with “cedar oil”, which is most likely not oil from cedar but rather oil of juniper (Juniperus phoenicea). Myrrh and cinnamon were then rubbed all over the body to help preserve it. Cinnamon may have been the cinnamon familiar to us (Cinnamonium zeylanicum) or cassia (C. cassia). Juniper berries would be mixed with salt for the dehydration.

Other herbal material was used to help prepare a mummy. One or two onions (Allium cepa) would be placed in the thorax, the pelvis, in the ear, or near the eyes. Black peppercorns (Piper nigrum) were found in the nostrils and abdomen of the mummy of Ramesses II. Powdered remains of dyer’s camomile (Anthemidae sp.) was also found sprinkled into the abdomen of Ramesses II; it probably served an insecticidal function. Sawdust and wood pitch of juniper has also been found on mummies. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has been found inserted into the mummy wrappings.

The poor people of ancient Egypt also wanted to be mummified after death, but this was an expensive process. Consequently, the mummies of the poor contain different materials than those of pharoahs and the high-born. Onions were expensive, so radishes (Raphanus sativus) were used instead. Castor oil (Ricinus communis) would be substitued for the juniper oil.
Decoration of the Mummy

The mummy would also be decorated with plant materials; many of these plants had mystical associations for the ancient Egyptians. Papyrus was often included in the tomb with the mummy, for it was a symbol of resurrection. Persea (Mimusops laurifolius) branches were another common tomb decoration. Elaborate garlands were made and placed on mummies. The plants most often used for these garlands include:

* olive leaves
* blue lotus petals
* cornflowers
* willow leaves
* celery leaves
* larkspur
* red poppies
* safflower

Of course, many objects were included in the tomb to help the mummy in the afterlife, and chickpeas, grains, and bulbs of garlic were included for sustenance in the hereafter.