In the cameras
of the old,
Oils and waxes
Thread
of stone –
Spices and balms
Bind the soul to the sand.
An alchemy of preservation
engraved in linen
Tender Hold.
The aromas remain –
spicy,
woody,
sweet.
Guided by the hand of tradition
These fragrances revive
The breath of distant times,
Anchor the lives
Within the Silent Sentinels
We know today.
This poem is inspired by Recent researchthat has found that ancient Egyptian mummies still smell well.
Ancient Egyptian mumification is a fascinating process, destined not only to the preservation of the body, but also of the soul for eternity. This ritual implied an intricate method of embalming that used several oils, waxes and balms. Historically, most research on these mummified bodies have been carried out in collections located in European museums. However, a new study focuses on the source: the Egyptian museum in Cairo. The researchers aimed to discover if the aromas that currently emanate from these ancient bodies could still reflect the original embalming materials used thousands of years ago, and the value that this could have to understand and preserve these collections.
This research used a combination of sensory panel analysis, gas-spectrometry-olfactometry chromatography (GC-MS-O), microbiological studies and historical research to analyze odors. The results revealed a variety of odors, described as ‘woody’, ‘spicy’ and ‘sweet’, which are consistent in all samples. The GC-MS-O was essential to distinguish four different categories from volatile substances: those of original mummification materials, vegetable oils used in subsequent conservation efforts, synthetic pesticides and microbial deterioration by-products. The investigation highlighted the complexities of identifying the exact origins of these smells, especially due to the use of modern insects that share similar compositions with old embalming substances. Significantly, the study identified groups of chemical and olfactory profiles that correlate with specific archaeological periods and conservation treatments, which offer new ideas about the materiality and historical contexts of these mummies.
#Preserved #aroma
