Death and postmortem stiffness
After death, the heart stops delivering oxygen to the cells and tissues of the body. After a few minutes, brain cells will die and other cells will continue to live for a few days. Due to the stop of blood circulation and the influence of gravity, blood will concentrate in the blood vessels at the lower part of the corpse, forming a corpse spot. Lividity is one of the earliest postmortem phenomena, which usually appears 2-4 hours after death, reaches the highest after 12- 14 hours, and remains fixed for 24-36 hours until the corpse decays.
In addition, after death, the body temperature will drop at a rate of about 0.8℃/ hour until it is equal to the outside temperature. In the process of rigor mortis, rigor mortis usually begins within 1-3 hours after death, and all muscles will become stiff within 4-6 hours. Stiffness usually starts from the masseter muscle and gradually develops to the neck, upper limbs and lower limbs. Generally, rigor mortis will begin to relieve after 24-48 hours, and it will completely relieve within one week.
After that, insects, led by flies, will catch shadows and give birth to larvae in the open parts of the body, including eyes, mouth, genitals and wounds. Within a day after hatching outside the corpse, maggots will drill into the corpse and enter the second stage of larval life, and meet their own needs by obtaining subcutaneous fat from the corpse.
Decomposition of organs and decomposition of corpses
Enzymes in human cells can assist metabolism and decompose various substances. However, when people die, cells can no longer control the normal activities of these enzymes, and then these enzymes will overflow the cells with the cell fluid. The eye is one of the first tissues to be destroyed-imagine the disgusting scene that the liquid in the eye is ejected from the orbit ... After the cells between the layers of skin enter this process, the epidermis of the human body will gradually become loose, and eventually it will wrap the body like a human leather coat, and even tear off the skin of the whole body directly.
Because there are a large number of spoilage bacteria in the intestines of corpses, the corruption of corpses usually starts from the abdomen, and the earliest sign is abdominal swelling. This is because the reproduction of bacteria will produce a lot of waste gas, which can be discharged in time when people are alive. In a corpse, because the digestive system can't work, waste gas will fill all parts of the corpse, making some parts gradually expand.
A highly corrupt corpse, because it is full of corruption, the whole corpse swells into a giant and can't see what it looked like before birth. This phenomenon is called the macro view of corruption.
The swelling will last about a week after death. When some parts of the body (such as intestines or trunk) burst due to expansion, gas will be released from the body.
With the continuous reproduction of bacteria, the flora will become larger and larger, which will eventually lead to the dissolution of human organs. The enrichment of bacteria makes the lungs and digestive organs dissolve first. Moreover, because the bacteria propagated in the mouth enter the brain through the upper part of the mouth, the brain will dissolve quickly.
After that, all the organs in the body dissolved and mixed with each other, making it difficult to identify. Carnivorous larvae will accompany bacteria to erode muscles, and whether the skin rots or not depends on the temperature of the environment. As the decay process continues, eventually, the body will rot completely until it disappears.
Herodotus left us with detailed information on how to prevent this from happening.
First, apply melted turpentine to your face to protect your facial image and prevent it from drying too fast.
Second, brain pulp processing. The craftsman inserted the chisel into the left nostril, crushed the ethmoid bone, and then used tools to rotate in the brain, destroying the brain marrow. Insert a very small long-handled spoon into the brain from the nostril, dig out the brains, and finally put some drugs and spices into the empty skull. Brain marrow is generally not preserved.
Third, take out the internal organs. The stomach, intestine, liver and lung were taken out through the left incision in the abdomen. Then use palm oil as cleaning solution to clean the chest and abdomen. Sometimes these organs are neatly wrapped in turpentine balls and put into the mummy's abdomen, and sometimes they are put into a small jar with a lid and then put into the abdomen. Small pots are becoming more and more complicated from the ancient kingdom to the new kingdom.
At first, there were some simple pot covers, but in the Middle Kingdom, there were pot covers with heads. In the early18th century, the lid of the jar was guarded by the "son of Horace". However, it was forbidden to take out the heart in ancient Egypt. They regard the heart as a symbol of wisdom and try their best to keep it in the body. In the book of the dead in the New Kingdom, there are three people on duty who take turns guarding the heart.
Fourth, dehydration. This is an important drying process. The craftsmen first wrapped the soaked alkali and other temporary fillers in cloth, and then soaked them in dry soaked alkali powder for about 40 days. After the water is drained, they take out the stuffing inside and put crushed myrrh, cinnamon, soaked alkali, sawdust and so on in cloth bags. Finally, they carefully stitched the incision and pasted a piece of skin with Horace's eyes painted on it, because the ancient Egyptians missed the strong healing and protection of this skin.
Fifth, cosmetic surgery. In order to keep the mummy's skin soft, it was selectively coated with a mixture of milk, wine, spices, beeswax, turpentine and asphalt to beautify the skin. Mummy's eyes are full of linen and stones, which are very vivid. The mummy was finally coated with turpentine to prevent moisture, and the makeup artist also sprinkled a layer of carmine on the mummy's cheeks, wearing a braided wig, clothes and the best jewelry.
Sixth, the bag. Egyptians thought it was dangerous to be buried, so prayers were accompanied during the whole process (usually 15 days). Every time the hand that bandages the body moves, it is accompanied by solemn prayers or magic spells, and protective strips are placed between linen bandages. They attach great importance to keeping it in their hearts. Amulets are generally made of scarab-shaped or heart-shaped green stones with the words "Preserve the heart of the deceased so that it will not produce anything harmful to its owner". Other amulets were placed near the mummy's body or wrapped in linen.
Seventh, the mummy greeted his card. The time is usually 70 days. After that, Anubis secretly returned the mummy to his family for burial.