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Cartonnage Mummy Case & Skeleton of a Child with a Rare Bone Disease
Cartonnage mummy case & skeleton of a child with a rare bone disease called osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). His skull and part of his skeleton are on the left side of the cartonnage. The remains of this infant constitute the best-preserved instance of the condition from antiquity. The skull shows a characteristic deformity caused by the stress of supporting the cranial vault. The bones are light and distorted due to massive fracturing. From Speos Artemidos (Grotto of Artemis), Bani-Hasan tombs, Egypt. 22nd Dynasty, 945-716 BCE.
The British Museum, London.
Questions & Answers
Did children in the ancient world play with toys?
- Yes, children in the ancient world played with dolls, toy soldiers, wooden weapons, pull-toys, balls, figurines, and many other playthings.
How young were children put to work in the ancient world?
- The age at which a child went to work depended on his or her social standing. A lower-class child was expected to help with work as soon as they were able; an upper-class child might not assume responsibilities until around the age of seven, if then.
Why are children so underrepresented in ancient art?
- Children were understood as "adults in training", not as individuals worthy of consideration in their own right, except as subjects in funerary monuments or artworks celebrating motherhood, the family, or a divine child.
At what age did children in the ancient world begin attending school?
- In ancient Rome, children began school around the age of seven. In ancient Mesopotamia, education was optional, and the children of the wealthy began school around the age of eight - the same with Egypt.
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External Links
Archaeologies of Childhood | Childhood in Ancient World
kelsey.lsa.umich.edu
Children in the Ancient World - Local Histories
localhistories.org
Children in the Ancient Near East - The BAS Library
biblicalarchaeology.org
