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 he
mummy case available in the House of Pharaoh range is representative
of an anthropoid form used early in the 18th dynasty and revisited
stylistically during the saite period of the 26th dynasty.
The face is framed by the lappets of a stylised wig while
a broad decorative collar encircles the neck. The sky goddess
Nut spreads her protective wings over the chest area as she
kneels beside the hieroglyphs that spell her name.
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bands of hieroglyphics have been deciphered and the translation
reads top to bottom left to right. (The Osiris Ani speaks
"Oh mother Nut, stretch yourself over me that you might place
me among the indestructible stars which are in you and I will
not perish.") Removing the lid reveals a votive earth mummy
as a mere token reminder that the human being was fashioned
from clay on the potters' wheel by the hands of the god Khnum.
he
mummy case or coffin is not to be confused with the associated
sarcophagus, which is a larger, usually rectangular box in
stone or wood that houses the smaller mummy case/s inside.
The cases themselves could also be rectangular by design as
in most old and middle kingdom examples. During the middle
kingdom a new style of case evolved - the anthropoid, mimicking
the form of the human being. This became the preferred choice
for kings, queens nobility, and all strata of society that
could afford it during the rest of pharaonic history.
he
most costly mummy cases were made of stone or imported wood.
The cedar from Lebanon was a highly prized commodity and was
used relatively sparingly compared with the abundant examples
fashioned from the local acacia and sycamore. Cartonage -
frequently made of plaster, mud, plant fibres or cloth was
also employed as a material for use making not only the mummiform
coffin but masks as well.
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