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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt:...been an inno-Development vation introduced about the beginning of the Twelfth Dynasty, that of Senebtisi being coffins0'01'1 the earliest definitely datable example yet known.8 It has been suggested with every probability of certainty that the origin of the type lies with the cartonnage masks of the Transitional Period. Although it is impossible to demonstrate the stages of its evolution from contemporary material, still there existed into the Twelfth Dynasty some interesting survivals from intermediate steps which show the process with sufficient clearness. With the adoption of the extended position for the body and the wrapping of it to suggest its natural form in the shape we now associate with mummies, a desire grew up to complete the tendency toward naturalism by some representation of a face and head. As early as the Sixth Dynasty attempts were made to model a portrait in plaster over the face of the mummy and sometimes even to sheath the whole body in stucco.4 As a matter of convenience, the masks modeled in situ on the body gave way at an early date to the familiar type made to be slipped over the head of the mummy in an already completed state.5 The desire to encase the entire mummy occasionally, is shown by examples prolonged to cover a large part of the body,6 but to make a snugly fitting full-length envelope that could be slipped over the head was impossible, and recourse was had to the expedient of making it in two sections--a back or body and a front or lid. The result was to all intents and purposes a cartonnage coffin, to obtain greater solidity 'One variety of the formulae is on the box of Senebtisi; see p. 36. 2 For example, that of Karenen in Quibell, Saqqara, 1906-07, p. 10, and that of Senebtisi. Even later in the Xllth dyn. or XHIth dy...