Fragment de sarcophage, Basse Époque, XXVIe dynastie (époque saïte), vers 664–525 av. J.-C. ·  Égypte · ID: 3053739

Description

wood, linen, gesso, pigments,

The fragment belonged to an inner coffin box and formed part of a religious pictorial and inscriptional programme intended to protect and provide for the deceased in the afterlife.

At the foot end, large stylised wedjat-eyes appear as protective symbols associated with healing, wholeness, and regeneration. A checker-pattern frieze and polychrome block borders evoke earlier Egyptian coffin traditions.

One long side preserves vertical columns of cursive hieroglyphs. The inscription contains a “htp-dj-nsw” offering formula for “the Osiris, the king’s daughter Irka(?), true of voice before Sokar in the house of Atum, lord of Heliopolis.” Among the offerings named are bread, beer, cattle, fowl, alabaster, incense, and oil. The title “sht-nswt”, “king’s daughter,” is to be understood here as an honorific and does not necessarily indicate actual royal descent.

Further hieroglyphic text columns on the interior contain passages from the Saite recension of the Book of the Dead. The pictorial and textual programme thus refers to central concepts of protection, sustenance, rebirth, and continued existence in the afterlife.

Remarques

This object is subject to the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).