ARKY 327 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Indus Valley Civilisation, Yellow Emperor, Silk Road
19 Jun 2018
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03-01-2018
Pyramids of Giza- angle that is perfectly oriented to that you can sail your solar boat up into
heaven- 52 degrees
Mummification- 1700-1800 believed that drinking ground up mummy dust would prolong life.
Pharmaceutical industry around selling ground up mummy parts. Hieroglyphic texts include a lot
of information on the process of mummification. Involved removing the internal organs and
preserving them in different kinds of containers. Filling the empty body with different herbs and
spices. Some internal organs had symbolic significance- the brain did not have any purpose
however. The brain would be removed through the nose.
Dry conditions plus removal of organs led to very well preserved bodies.
Tattoos found on egyptian mummies. Analysis can tell you about diseases prevalent in the
time.
Royal mummies- placed inside of an elaborately decorated sarcophagus. Sometime gilded with
gold, inlaid with gems. The body inside the sarcophagus would be wrapped in cloth an in the
cloth would be amulets, small statues to honor the dead and protect them from evil spirits.
Forensic Investigation- using CT scans on unopened sarcophagi. Using modern autopsies to
characterize what the diet was like, what kind of medicinal herbs were given to the individual
prior to death. Investigation into cause of death and attributes of the individual prior to death.
Valley of the Kings- It was not agriculturally productive, fairly secluded, specifically used for
interment of the royal dead. Valley of the Queens was not far away. Interested in mausoleums,
not so much pyramids anymore in this time. Early 1900s- archaeologist found texts suggesting
that there were additional royal mummies buried here, many of the tombs had already been
looted.
King tut came into power in a time of political upheaval. Only in power for five or six years,
taking over the rulership as a young teenager. Did not have time to achieve much wealth.
Suggestion based on inscriptions on materials that king tut may have sponsored some tomb
raiding- raided Akhenaten. Akhenaten had caused unrest by saying that there was only one
god, put many priests out of work. When king tut was in power he returned to the original belief
that there were many gods.
Rosetta Stone- helped to decipher egyptian hieroglyphics.
KV55- the son of Amenhotep and father of Tutankhamun. The tomb had been badly disturbed-
scattered mummy remains. Identification has to do with a more complete sarcophagus, probably
buried with Queen Tiye. Discovered in 1907. Believed to be the body of Akhenaten
KV5- Sons of Ramses- Ramses had many wives and many sons. Dozens of burial chambers.
Mostly looted of antiquities. Found some intact chambers, including a sarcophagi.
Amarna- In order for akhenaten to solidify his authority he built the new city Amarna. It was a
planned community, the architects got together to plan this to celebrate the religious importance
of the sun god. They seemed to have very elongated heads- there is speculation that these may
be aliens. There was artworks found that depicted aliens coming from space.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Pyramids of giza- angle that is perfectly oriented to that you can sail your solar boat up into heaven- 52 degrees. Mummification- 1700-1800 believed that drinking ground up mummy dust would prolong life. Pharmaceutical industry around selling ground up mummy parts. Hieroglyphic texts include a lot of information on the process of mummification. Involved removing the internal organs and preserving them in different kinds of containers. Filling the empty body with different herbs and spices. Some internal organs had symbolic significance- the brain did not have any purpose however. The brain would be removed through the nose. Dry conditions plus removal of organs led to very well preserved bodies. Analysis can tell you about diseases prevalent in the time. Royal mummies- placed inside of an elaborately decorated sarcophagus. The body inside the sarcophagus would be wrapped in cloth an in the cloth would be amulets, small statues to honor the dead and protect them from evil spirits.
