Viggen Posted July 20, 2003 Report Share Posted July 20, 2003 These artefacts are unique in the history of art. They mark a turning point in the Egyptians' mortuary practices, as of the first century AD, when mummies became gradually endowed with their portraits. These were depictions of the head and shoulders of the deceased, executed either on wooden tablets and placed under the bandages covering the mummy's face or on the linen shroud itself. They were painted in tempera or in pigments mixed with liquid beeswax. This new funerary cult probably meant to provide a true to life facial representation for the mummy's future life. The traditional belief of the Egyptians in a future life with their physical form intact - the rationale behind mummification - led to the development of this extraordinary art of mummy portraiture. Herodotus used to recount with some relish the Egyptians' obsession with mummification in order to underline the differences between Egypt and Greece. Eventually, however, the two cultures came together and the time came for Greeks to adopt Egyptian practices. more on AthensNews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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