Читать книгу The Anatomical Venus - Joanna Ebenstein - Страница 67

Egyptian death rituals are intimately related to wax: ‘mummy’ traces the Ancient Egyptian word ‘moum’, meaning ‘wax’ or ‘tallow’, which was an important part of the mummification process. Painted in encaustic, a combination of wax and pigment, the Fayum mummy portraits from Egypt are believed to date from between the late first century bCe and mid third century Ce. About nine hundred portraits have been discovered at Fayum, near Cairo. Beautifully preserved, they are the oldest known body of art from classical antiquity. Each portrait would have been commissioned during the subject’s lifetime and displayed in the home until their death, whereupon they would be attached to the mummy case. leF t The mummy of an adolescent boy from Fayum, near Cairo, Egypt (c. 100 to 120 Ce). The body was wrapped whilst in an advanced state of decomposition—the ribs and spinal column are in a state of confusion—with fine linen layers arranged in a diamond pattern with gilded studs. An encaustic (pigmented wax) mummy portrait has been inserted over the face. aboVe This encaustic portrait on limewood from Fayum, Egypt, depicts a wealthy woman. Her jewelled necklace and diadem are reproduced in gold leaf. opposite Encaustic portraits from mummy cases found at Fayum, near Cairo, Egypt. AV_00966_pre-pdf layout_001_215.indd 72 12/01/2016 12:14 [2]