mummy human Thesaberu

Mummy of female (24-30yrs) called Thesaberu, wrapped in brown linen in anthropoid coffin of wood. Remains of a blue and white beaded net over chest on outside of mummy wrapping. Coffin lid is painted, head mask raised and painted red-brown. Although damaged, the lower central column of hieroglyphs on coffin can be read as 'Osiris, Thes (?) Beru, Mistress of the House'. X-ray shows arms folded over chest.

Early: -332 Late: -30, Period: Ptolemaic or Greek period

linen wood gypsum plaster faience paint

L(mummy): 1560 mm L(coffin): 1800 mm

Egypt

In Egypt from the Pre-Dynastic period in the 4th millenium BC until the 1st millenium AD it was normal for bodies to be mummified before burial, to accord with beliefs about the well-being of the deceased after death. The technique was developed from early desiccation and wrapping to more elaborate embalming procedures and removal of the viscera, accompanied by the development of coffins of decorated wood and, later, cartonnage a moulded mixture of linen and plaster. This female mummy, shown by X-ray to be between 24 and 30 years old. It also shows that her arms are crossed over her chest. She is named as Thesaberu. The case is made of sycamore wood and plaster , inscribed and painted in white, green and red and yellow with stripes figures and hieroglyphs, in a pattern that gives a banded appearance to the coffin body. The face and hair are shown in a stylized manner, the face is painted in a dramatic contrast in red/brown with white eyes outlined in black. The mummy is wrapped in brown linen and a net of tubular turquoise and white round faience beads was laid over the chest of the wrapped mummy. The mummy and coffin date from the period of Greek rule in Egypt, the Ptolemaic period, about 300-40 BC. There is a record in the catalogue of other tomb furniture with this mummy, a figure of Nephthys, four canopic jars, a figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, a box containing ushabti figures and a figure of Isis. It is not stated whether these were found together. See also 22115.