<em>Shrew Coffin of Pahapy</em>, 664–30 B.C.E. Bronze, 2 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., 0.6 lb. (5.4 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm, 0.25kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.411Ea. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 37.411E_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)

Shrew Coffin of Pahapy, 664–30 B.C.E. Bronze, 2 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., 0.6 lb. (5.4 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm, 0.25kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.411Ea. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 37.411E_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)

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What Egyptian god is the shrew is supposed to be associated with?

Shrews were used to stand in for the ichneumon, the African mongoose. The ichneumon was associated with Horus and the god Atum, and was worshipped for it's ability to see in the dark and ability to kill snakes.

You might have seen a small statue of a king and (much larger) Ichneumon elsewhere in the exhibition!

Interesting! I knew the ichneumon was variously worshipped, also as the goddess Mafdet, but I didn't know the shrew could be a possible stand-in for it.

Isn't it fascinating?

It really is!

Shrew Coffin of Pahapy

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Bronze coffins added value to votive mummies and possibly were thought to help influence the god to help the petitioner. A man named Pahapy used this coffin for a shrew mummy. The Egyptians regarded shrews as guardians of the sun god Re and included requests to him in many types of animal cemeteries.

MEDIUM Bronze

Possible Place Made: Lower Egypt, Egypt

DATES 664–30 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 26, or later

PERIOD Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

DIMENSIONS 2 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., 0.6 lb. (5.4 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm, 0.25kg) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.411Ea

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Small bronze shrew standing on a bronze, rectangular coffin. Just below the top of the coffin, there is a pair of parallel concave bands running along the front and side walls. The coffin body features hieroglyphic inscriptions on the right and front walls. Inscription is partly unintelligible. In the center of both long walls, there are small, rectangular punctures. The shrew stands on all four legs, with its left legs slightly stepped forward. The face, tail, and feet of the animal feature minimal carved details. Carved into its back, there is a vulture with outstretched wings by the animal’s shoulders and a beetle with outstretched wings on the shrew’s lower back. While well preserved, light scratches are visible along the entire object, with a higher concentration at the edges. Additionally there are a few small dents concentrated on the left, back, and top of the coffin portion.

EXHIBITIONS

Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Shrew Coffin of Pahapy, 664–30 B.C.E. Bronze, 2 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., 0.6 lb. (5.4 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm, 0.25kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.411Ea. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 37.411E_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 37.411E_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 2012

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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