Cedar Oil, Cedri Succus, Cedrium The cedar oil spoken of by Herodotus and Diodorus is probably actually made from the juniper plant. Neither is considered satisfactory or final. Two scholarly references have been made to cassia or cinnamon in relation to mummies. Herodotus mentions cassia and Diodorus mentions cinnamon (possibly the same material being meant in both cases) as having been used in mummification. Assuming that cassia and cinnamon were known during the times of the pharaohs, they would naturally have been used as flavoring and perfuming materials and also possibly as incense. In ancient times cassia and cinnamon consisted of the bark plus flower-tops, twigs, and wood of these plants. Cassia and Cinnamon These substances are similar both are from varieties of laurel that grow in India, Ceylon, and China. It may have been used on some animal mummies. Bitumen The only human mummies on which bitumen was used were from the Graeco-Roman period in Egypt, and the material was not universally used even then. Beeswax figures of the four sons of Horus accompanied the canopic packages of Dynasty 21 mummies. It is sometimes found on other parts of the body. Beeswax This substance was often used to cover the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and embalming incision. Alum There is no evidence of its deliberate use. Items not mentioned by the ancient authors but found in relation to mummies studied in modern times are listed as well. For each, there is a comment on modern scientific evidence to support or refute these claims. Most of these materials were mentioned by the ancient authors Herodotus, Diodorus, or Pliny as being used in the mummification process.
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