Mummy portrait of a woman

Hawara, Fayum, Egypt, AD 100-120

This portrait was attached to an Egyptian-style mummy, and appears to be a naturalistic depiction of the subject, thus perpetuating the memory of the woman's physical appearance. However, since the mummy has not survived, it is uncertain how naturalistic it was. This feature was a direct result of the Greco-Roman influence of the period.

The mummy portrait, painted in encaustic on limewood, was excavated by Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) in 1888.

S. Walker (ed.), Ancient faces: mummy portraits, 2nd ed. (London, The British Museum Press, 2000)

J.C.H. King (ed.), Human image (London, The British Museum Press, 2000)