donations to other
deities. On the breast was placed the figure of Netpe, with expanded
wings, protecting the deceased; sacred arks, boats, and other things
were arranged in different compartments, and Osiris, Isis, Anubis, and
other deities, were frequently introduced. In some instances Isis was
represented throwing her arms round the feet of the mummy, with this
appropriate legend: "I embrace thy feet." A plaited beard was attached
to the chin when the mummy was that of a man; the absence of this
appendage indicated the mummy of a woman.

[Illustration: SARCOPHAGUS, OR COFFIN. (_With Noah's Ark cut in
relief on the outside._)]

_Mummy Cases and Sarcophagi._--The outer case of the mummy was either
of wood--sycamore or cedar--or of stone. When of wood it had a flat or
circular summit, sometimes with a stout square pillar rising at each
angle. The whole was richly painted, and some of an older age
frequently had a door represented near one of the corners. At one end
was the figure of Isis, at the other Nepthys, and the top was painted
with bands or fancy devices. In others, the lid represented the
curving top of the ordinary Egyptian canopy. The stone coffins,
usually called sarcophagi, were of oblong shape, having flat straight
sides, like a box, with a curved or pointed lid. Sometimes the figure
of the deceased was represented upon the latter in relief, like that
of the Queen of Amasis in the British Museum; and some were in the
form of a King's name or oval. Others were made in the shape of the
mummied body, whether of basalt, granite, slate, or limestone,
specimens of which are met with in the British Museum. These cases
were deposited in the sepulchral chambers. Various offerings were
placed near them, and sometimes the instruments of the profession of
the deceased. Near them were also placed vases and small figures of
the deceased, of wood or vitrified earthenware. In Sir John Soane's
museum is the sarcophagus of Seti I. (Menephtha) B.C. 1322, cut out of
a single block of Oriental alabaster. It is profusely covered with
hieroglyphics, and scenes on it depict the passage of the sun through
the hours of the night. It was found by Belzoni in his tomb in the
Biban-el-molouk. The sarcophagus now in the British Museum was
formerly supposed to have been the identical sarcophagus which
contained the body of Alexander the Great. The hieroglyphic name,
which has been read upon the monument, proves it to be that of