mummy-case;
cartonnage;
human mummy
- Museum number
- EA41603
- Description
-
Infant in cartonnage mummy-case. The radiograph reveals the disorganized bones of an infant (sex uncertain) who had suffered from a rare disorder of the bone called osteogenesis imperfecta. It is evident that the cartonnage case itself could have accommodated a larger child. Some teeth, both complete and fragmentary, and the skull and many fragments of bone are stored separately. The cartonnage mummy-case is in the form of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, anthropoid, wearing wig, beard and plumed sun-disc, decorated with polychrome painted funerary deities and protective falcons, with vertical register of hieroglyphs down centre of the body. The foot end of the case is now missing.
- Dimensions
-
Length: 73 centimetres (max)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Bibliography:
J. Garstang, ‘The Burial Customs of Ancient Egypt’, (London, 1907), 204, 207, fig. 219;
W.R. Dawson and P.H.K. Gray, Catalogue of Egyptian antiquities in the British Museum. I. mummies and human remains (London, 1968), pp. 13-14, plate VIIb;
P. H. K. Gray, 'Clinical Radiology' 20 (1969), 106-8;
J. Filer, 'Disease' (London, 1995), 63, pl. VI;
N. Strudwick, Masterpieces of Ancient Egypt, London 2006, pp. 250-1.
- Location
- On display (G63/dc14)
- Condition
- fair (incomplete - foot missing)
- Acquisition date
- 1905
- Department
- Egypt and Sudan
- BM/Big number
- EA41603
- Registration number
- 1905,0516.34
