Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Made:
343-69 BCE in Ancient Egypt
maker:
Ancient Egyptian people

Egyptian mummy, probably a child, of the Ptolemaic period, from Al-Fayyum, Upper Egypt, purchased in 1932

This Egyptian mummy is thought to be the body of a child. It dates from the Ptolemaic period (343-69 BCE). Mummification was a religious practice to preserve the body of the deceased. The body would then be entombed with their worldly goods for use in the next life. It involved removing most internal organs. The heart remained because it is believed to be the seat of all emotions. The body cavity was cleaned and then packed with an absorbent salt-based material called natron.

The removed organs were stored in canopic jars. These were placed with the mummy in the tomb or returned to the body after wrapping. After 40 days the body was cleaned again, coated in resin and wrapped in strips of linen. Amulets were placed with the body for further protection. The mummification process took 70 days for the most important in society. Ceremonies then restored the deceased’s powers to see, hear, speak and move in their new existence.

Details

Category:
Classical & Medieval Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A113325
Materials:
body, flesh, body, bone, swaddling, cloth, mask, cloth and mask, plaster
Measurements:
overall: 361 mm x 1070 mm x 402 mm,
body: 920 mm x 500 mm,
type:
human remains and mummy
credit:
Wellcome Trust

Parts

Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Egyptian mummy, probably a child, of the Ptolemaic period, from Al-Fayyum, Upper Egypt, purchased in 1932

Measurements:
overall: 361 mm x 1070 mm x 402 mm,
Materials:
bone , cloth , flesh and plaster
Object Number:
A113325/1
type:
mummy and human remains
Piece of decorated plaster from an Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Piece of decorated plaster from an Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Piece of decorated plaster from the mask of the Egyptian mummy, probably a child, of the Ptolemaic period, from Al-Fayyum, Upper Egypt, purchased in 1932

Materials:
cloth and plaster
Object Number:
A113325/2
type:
mummy and human remains
Piece of decorated plaster from an Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Piece of decorated plaster from an Egyptian mummy, Egypt, 343-69 BCE

Piece of decorated plaster from the mask of the Egyptian mummy, probably a child, of the Ptolemaic period, from Al-Fayyum, Upper Egypt, purchased in 1932

Materials:
cloth and plaster
Object Number:
A113325/3
type:
mummy and human remains