Outer Coffin of Henettawy, ca.
1040–991 B.C.E.; Dynasty 21;
Third Intermediate period
Egyptian; Thebes
Plastered and painted wood; L. 79
7/8 in. (203 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1925 (25.3.182)
An Egyptian Pharaoh was put into a handcrafted box called
a Sarcophagus when he died. Before he was put into the sarcophagus,
the sarcophagus was painted and decorated. The Egyptians put eyes on the
sarcophagus because they believed wherever there were eyes, the mummy would
be able to see out of the sarcophagus.
After the Egyptians built the sarcophagus they worked
on the mummy. The mummy was wrapped in white linen, and then it was
painted. Every mummy had a ba and a ka. The reason why
the Egyptians put a hole in the back of the sarcophagus is so that the
ba and ka could travel in and out of it.
Coffin of Khnum-nakht, ca.
1900–1800 B.C.E.; Dynasty 12;
Middle Kingdom
Egyptian; Possibly from Asyut
Painted wood; L. 82 in. (208.3 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1915 (15.2.2)
If you would like to learn more about sarcophaguses and mummies, you may visit the following websites:
