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The Scent of the Afterlife: Ancient Egyptian Mummification Balm Ingredients
Researchers decode the mummification balms of ancient noblewoman Senetnay, revealing her elevated status in Egyptian society.
The ingredients of balms used in the mummification of an ancient Egyptian noblewoman named Senetnay — whose remains were excavated by Howard Carter in 1900 CE — are described in a study published today (August 31) in the journal Scientific Reports. The origins and complexity of the balms provide clues as to the high status of the individual.
Historical Background
Previous research has identified that Senetnay lived in Egypt around 1,450 BCE, was a wet nurse to the Pharaoh Amenhotep II during his infancy, and bore the title “Ornament of the King.” After her death, her mummified organs were stored in four jars in a royal tomb in the esteemed Valley of the Kings.
Balm Analysis
Barbara Huber, Nicole Boivin, and colleagues analyzed the substances found within six balm samples from two jars that were used to store Senetnay’s lungs and liver. They report that both balms contained beeswax, plant oils, animal fats, the naturally occurring petroleum product bitumen, and resins from the family of coniferous trees that includes pines and larches.
The authors also identified the presence of the compounds coumarin and benzoic acid within samples from both jars. Coumarin has a vanilla-like scent and is found in a wide range of plants including cinnamons and pea plants, while benzoic acid occurs in fragrant resins and gums obtained from several types of trees and shrubs.
While the composition of the balms from both jars appeared to be very similar, the authors identified two substances that were only present in the jar used to store Senetnay’s lungs. These were a compound known as larixol — which is found in larch resin — and another fragrant resin that they suggest is either dammar, which is obtained from dipterocarp trees that grow in India and Southeast Asia, or a resin obtained from Pistacia trees — a group that is part of the cashew family. The presence of these ingredients in only one of the two jars could indicate that different balms were used to preserve different organs.
Comparative Analysis and Social Implications
Based on a review of previous analyses of mummification balms, the authors report that the composition of those applied to Senetnay’s organs was relatively complex compared to others from the same period. Additionally, they suggest that most of the potential ingredients would likely have been imported from locations outside Egypt.
The authors postulate that the complexity of the balms and the use of imported ingredients in the mummification of Senetnay reflect her high social status and indicate that she was a highly valued member of the Pharaoh’s entourage.
注释：
balm: n
表示" 香油；药膏"，means "any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing"，如：Balm of a rose can rival a variety of other balm.一滴玫瑰香油可以媲美多种其它香油。
coumarin: n
表示" 香豆素"，如：Too much coumarin in the diet can cause liver damage.However, she agrees that there's no reason to worry about sprinkling cinnamon on a child's oatmeal. 虽然食物中如果有太多的香豆素会导致肝脏受损，但是，她认为也不需要担心小孩子燕麦粥上洒的那么一点点肉桂。
benzoic: adj
表示"安息香的；苯甲酸的"，means "containing or derived from benzoic acid or benzoin"，如：A study of the proton transfer process from halobenzoic acids to benzoic acid in water-ethanol mixtures compared with the same process in the gaseous phase is presented. 将在水乙醇混合溶剂中从卤代苯甲酸到苯甲酸的质子迁移过程与在气相中的同一过程进行了比较。
larixol: n
表示"落叶松酯"
larch: n
表示"落叶松"，如：Larch has small cones and needle-like leaves. 落叶松长着球果和针形的叶子。
dammar: n
表示" 达马脂"，means "any of various hard resins from trees of the family Dipterocarpaceae and of the genus Agathis; especially the amboyna pine"，如：gum dammar 达玛树脂,达玛树胶
dipterocarp: n
表示" 龙脑香科树(尤指羯布罗香)"，means "tree of the family Dipterocarpaceae"，如：Dipterocarp forest 龙脑香林
cashew: n
表示" 腰果；腰果树"，means "kidney-shaped nut edible only when roasted"，如：Cashew nuts and walnuts are both nuts. 腰果和核桃都是坚果。
postulate: v; n;
表示" 要求；假定"，means "maintain or assert;a proposition that is accepted as true in order to provide a basis for logical reasoning"，如：Authority is a postulate of the moral order and derives from God. 权威是一种道德秩序的主张，并且它来源于上帝。
entourage: n
表示" 随行人员；周围的事物"，means "the group following and attending to some important person"，如：Among his entourage was a retired general. 他的随行人员中有一位退休的将军。
中文简要说明：
香水业者常以「永恒」、「亘古」这类词汇命名产品。最近有科学家「重现」3500年前古埃及贵妇的香氛，这「永恒之香」来自于保存木乃伊的防腐剂，成分包括蜂蜡、树脂、沥青、植物油、动物脂肪，再次证明古埃及人的高度智慧，也意味古埃及国际贸易开始年代比现今学界认为的时间点更早。若想先「嗅」为快，得跑一趟丹麦。
古埃及人相信人死后有来生，把往生者制成木乃伊等待复活，因此发展出令后世惊叹的遗体保存技术。综合英国《每日邮报》、科技新闻网站《每日科学》（Scitech Daily）报导，科学家从百余年前出土于埃及勒克索（Luxor）的一具女性木乃伊遗骸提取防腐香膏样本，重现近3500年前的香气。研究成果已发表于期刊《科学报导》（Scientific Reports）。
这具木乃伊名叫莎娜奈（Senetnay），生存于公元前1450年左右，她是埃及法老阿蒙霍特普二世（Pharaoh Amenhotep II）婴儿期的乳母，也是阿蒙霍特普二世重要随从之一，有「国王装饰品」称号，遗体葬在埃及古都底比斯（Thebes，今名勒克索）帝王谷（Valley of Kings），1900年由英国探险家卡特（Howard Carter）发掘，她的器官以4个罐子保存。研究团队从2个保存肝、肺的罐子采样香膏，析出6种复杂成分，比同期其他木乃伊香膏更精致，成分可能包括「舶来品」，代表她生前地位崇高。
防腐香膏之中的甜味来自可防细菌滋生的蜂蜡，散发香草味的香豆素（coumarin）存在于肉桂、豌豆等多种植物，松香气息来自于树脂。此外还有不太怡人的味道，例如铺马路刺鼻的沥青味，古埃及人用沥青封住脏器防潮、防虫。
科学家在脏器罐之一测得一种芳香树脂，可能是「达玛」（dammar）树脂或取自黄连木属（pistacia）树木的树脂。达玛树脂提炼自生长于东南亚的龙脑香科（dipterocarp）树木，若证实是达玛树脂，代表莎娜奈去世前古埃及已有国际贸易，比学界原本找到的证据早了将近1000年。学者曾在其他古埃及墓穴保存的食物发现黄连木树脂，封存食物是要让让木乃伊来世享用。
主导这项研究的德国马克斯普朗克研究所（Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology）科学家胡珀（Barbara Huber）说，研究展现古埃及人木乃伊制作技术高明，成功重制的远古香气有如时光机，让参观的人们实际感受古代气息。科学家在调香师与感知博物馆学者的协助之下绞尽脑汁重制的古埃及香气，即将于丹麦莫斯加德博物馆（Moesgaard Museum）展出。
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