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Pectoral of a mummy

Archaeology

Anonymous

Between 4th c. BC and 4th c. AD

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Fragment of mummy cartonnage, that is, a plastered cloth covering that was applied to the mummified and bandaged body while it was fresh and later, once dry, could be painted to offer significant decoration, as well as protection. This solution became widespread especially from the 22nd Dynasty (10th-8th centuries BC) because it was more economical than stuccoed wood coverings. In this case, it could be a fragment of complete coverage (like that of the mummy of Nadegaubastisred, MEV 3001, precisely from that dynasty) or just the lower part of a pectoral plate. In any case, it is a late piece, probably from the Ptolemaic period. It is common for the cartonnages to be decorated with scenes relating to the journey of the deceased towards the Hereafter. Four sectors with figurative scenes can be seen on the plate, separated by stripes decorated with rectangles or vertical lines. In the first scene, the god Anubis carries out mummification, accompanied by the goddesses Isis and Nephthys. The second shows the solar boat of twilight, guided by Horus and with the god Atum and the two goddesses mentioned inside; and in the record below, the boat of the morning, also guided by Horus and in this case with the god Sun as a child. In the last register, distributed in vertical columns, the four guardian geniuses of the viscera of the deceased were painted, which are also represented on the canopic glasses. In addition to illustrating the Egyptian vision of the afterlife, the piece reflects well the zoocephalic image characteristic of many Egyptian gods, originating from the association of an animal behavior or physical trait with certain supernatural concepts.

Marc Sureda Jubany

Llegir més

Location

Room2 ,Floor-1

1 History of the Museum

2 Archaelogy

3 Lapidary

Detalls de l’obra

PLACE OF EXECUTION

Egypt

PERIOD

Between 4th c. BC and 4th c. AD

Material

Linen and plaster cardboard painted in tempera

Dimensions

53,5 x 21 cm

Origin

Provenance from Egypt

WORK NUMBER

MEV 3006