Room 62-63: Egyptian mummies
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/c/coffin_of_tpaeus.aspx |
Coffin of Tpaeus
From the Qurna, Thebes, Egypt
Roman period, early second century AD · The owner is Tpaeus · Died at the age of 6 year, 8 months and 12 days · Buried in the family tomb ten months after his death · Coffin is a rectangle with a arched roof · Family is of the high official Soter · Family was of Greek origin who flourished when Egypt was controlled by the Roman emperors Trajan (reigned AD 98 - 117) and Hadrian (reigned AD 117 – 138) · Coffin theme follows the Egyptian death tradition, however the theme all shows Mediterranean influence · The lid of the coffin has gods that are to protective the mummy · There is a scene of Osiris before an offering table · Inside the coffin there is a figure of a goddess who is surrounded by foliage · On one side of the coffin there is a scene from the Book of the Heavens, three jackals dragging the sun boat |
What does this artefact tell us about Egyptian society? |
The Coffin of Tpaeus tells us that the when producing the tombs of the pharaoh’s they were sure to include figure of gods and goddess as they believed these figures would protect them in the afterlife. The most famous god that was distributed on tombs was Osiris before an offering table, which was the son of Geb the sky god and Nut the earth goddess. Osiris became King of Egypt as he was the oldest and married his sister Isis. Seb his brother killed Osiris out of jealousy and Osiris went into the underworld where he became the “lord of that domain.” Often tombs are elaborately decorated on both the outside and inside. Figures of gods and goddess were placed on the outside of tombs as the Egyptians believed that they would protect the mummy in the afterlife.
The British Museum 2015, Coffin of Tpaeus, British Museum, London, accessed 7 May 2015, <http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/c/coffin_of_tpaeus.aspx>. |