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Coffin of Diefiawet contaning a Ptelomaic mummy
The mummy is that of an adult female with her arms crossed over the breasts. X-rays have revealed that the body has suffered post-mortum mutilation; both the hands and feet are missing and dummies made of linen have been substituted by the embalmers. A mask, amuletic collar, and apron of painted cartonnage have been placed over the outer wrappings. The coffin reproduces the appearance of the mummified body. Such anthropoid cases were originally intended to serve as alternative dwellings for the spirit, in the event of the body itself is being destroyed. In addition, through their form, coloring, and iconography they helped to identify the deceased symbolically with the god Osiris. The surfaces of the coffin of Diefiawet were covered with painted scenes and hieroglyphic texts to assist and protect her passage into the afterlife. Isis and Nephthys, the sisters of Osiris, protect the head and the foot of the mummy, and goddess Nut spreads her winged arms over the breasts. A series of gods arranged along the sides of the case provide additional divine protection. The inscription in the center of the lid begins with the parentage of Diefiawet, who was the daughter of a temple doorkeeper. They continue with the full text of Chapter 89 of the Book of the Dead, a magical spell to ensure that the Ba (spirit) should be united with the body after death. From Egypt; precise provenance of excavation is unknown. The coffin dates back to the 26th Dynasty, 664-525 BCE, while the mummy dates back to the Ptolemaic period, 305-30 BCE. (National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology, Dublin, Republic of Ireland)
Questions & Answers
How did the ancient Egyptians view death and the afterlife?
- The ancient Egyptians viewed death as a transition of the soul from the earthly plane to the next realm. Life was understood as an eternal journey, only part of which was lived on earth.
What is the afterlife called in ancient Egypt?
- The afterlife in ancient Egypt was known as the Field of Reeds and was understood as a mirror image of one's life on earth where one would live in the presence of the gods.
Who was the Judge of the Dead in ancient Egypt?
- The god Osiris was the Judge of the Dead in ancient Egypt.
What is the Egyptian Book of the Dead?
- The Egyptian Book of the Dead is an instruction manual for the soul after death to help it navigate the afterlife and find its way to the paradise of the Field of Reeds. It is not in any way the "Egyptian Bible."
