(the god of night and crime), served to open and
clean the body of the pharaoh, and in this way prepare it for the
embalming proper.

During seventy days the departed must lie in a solution of soda, in
memory, it seems, of this, that the wicked Typhon had sunk the body of
his brother in the Soda Lakes. During all these days a priestess,
dressed as Isis, came to the heavenly hall, morning and evening. There,
groaning and tearing her hair, she inquired of all present whether any
one had seen her divine consort and brother.

At the expiration of that time of mourning, Horus, the son and heir of
Osiris, with his suite appeared in the hall, and they were the first to
see the vat with the solution.

"Might we look here for the remains of my father and brother?" asked
Horus.

So they searched and found; amid the immense delight of the priests,
with sounds of music, they removed the body of the pharaoh from the
strengthening bath.

The body was put into a stone cylinder through which passed a hot
breeze for a number of days, and, when the body was dried they gave it
to the embalmers.

Now began the most important ceremonies, which were performed by the
supreme priests of the court of the dead:

The body of the departed, turned head southward, they washed with
consecrated water and the interior with palm wine. On the pavement,
which was sprinkled with ashes, sat wailing women who tore their hair
and scratched their faces; they bewailed the late pharaoh. Around the
couch where the body lay were assembled priests dressed as gods. These
were Isis naked with a crown of the pharaohs, the youthful Horns,
Anubis with a jackal head, bird-headed Tot with tablets in his hands,
and many others.

Under the inspection of this worthy assembly, specialists began to fill
the body with strongly odorous plants and sawdust, they even poured in
odorous resin, all amid prayers. Then in his eye-sockets they inserted
glass eyes set in bronze. After that the whole body was sprinkled with
powdered soda.

Another priest appeared now who explained to those present that the
body of the departed was the body of Osiris, that his qualities were
the qualities of Osiris. "The magic qualities of his left temple are
the qualities of the god Turn and his right eye is the eye of the god
Turn, whose rays pierce through darkness. His left eye is the eye of
Horus, which dazzles every living creature; the upper lip that of Isis,
and the lower that of Nefth