Can a mummy smell? Yes – and it's quite nice. Using a number of laboratory techniques and their own noses, scientists isolated fragrances recorded during Egyptian funeral ceremonies. It is possible that in the future we will be able to experience this smell ourselves.
A team consisting of researchers from the University College in London and the University of Ljubljana analyzed the smells from the inside of nine sarcophagi located at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. To check how the mummy smells, the team used specialized tools such as a gas chromatographer. This enabled the separation of volatile relationships responsible for the overall smell, their identification and describing.
It was not the smell of the distribution
The main part of the study was the assessment of quality, intensity and pleasure of smells by experts. The results have shown that the characteristic fragrances come from the resins of coniferous trees, rubbish, such as mirrrh and incense, and waxes used in ancient embalm processes. According to researchers, these fragrances reflect the belief of the ancient Egyptians that pleasant aromas were tantamount to divine purity.
– Our noses are great tools to study the past, so we decided to use them in the mummy study – said the co -author of the analysis, Cecilia Bembibre from the University College in London.
The experiment was also attended by Egyptian conservators who helped researchers distinguish the original preservatives from later conservation additives. In this way, the “fragrance landscape” of the mummy was reconstructed in a way close to reality.
History to smell
Researchers decided to explore this topic because in ancient Egypt, the smell was of key importance for religious and social practices. The results increase knowledge about mummification techniques, revealing differences related to the era, location and socio-economic status. It is possible that in the future museums will be able to use these discoveries to create the right fragrance.
– By using our nose, we can learn more about history and heritage. If we cooperate with perfumers and scientists to restore these fragrances, people will be able to experience them in museums, and the historical heritage will become even closer to them – added Bebimbre.
Source of the main photo: CNN