Shrew Coffin with Mummy
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Object Label
Shrews and ichneumons both prey on snakes and therefore won the Egyptians’ admiration and worship. Though snakes could turn their powers to protecting kings and queens, serpents also threatened the sun god Re on his journey through the next world. Egyptian religion made room for both the positive and negative aspects of certain animals.
The shrew mummy bundle shows that more than one animal was sometimes included in one package.
Caption
Shrew Coffin with Mummy, 664–332 B.C.E.. Wood, pigment, animal remains, linen, 37.1362Ea (Coffin): 3 1/16 x 2 13/16 x 6 13/16 in. (7.7 x 7.1 x 17.3 cm) 37.1362Eb (Panel): 3 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 11/16 in. (8.9 x 39.4 x 1.8 cm) 37.1362Ec (Mummy): 1 x 1 x 4 13/16 in. (2.6 x 2.6 x 12.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1362Ea-c. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 37.1362Ea-b_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Title
Shrew Coffin with Mummy
Date
664–332 B.C.E.
Dynasty
Dynasty 26, or later
Period
Late Period, or later
Geography
Reportedly from: Saqqara, Egypt
Medium
Wood, pigment, animal remains, linen
Classification
Dimensions
37.1362Ea (Coffin): 3 1/16 x 2 13/16 x 6 13/16 in. (7.7 x 7.1 x 17.3 cm) 37.1362Eb (Panel): 3 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 11/16 in. (8.9 x 39.4 x 1.8 cm) 37.1362Ec (Mummy): 1 x 1 x 4 13/16 in. (2.6 x 2.6 x 12.3 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
37.1362Ea-c
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
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!Tell me more.
This is a wooden coffin with a shrew figurine on top. Shrews were associated with the sun god. Because of their night vision and talent at killing snakes , they aided the sun god in his battle against the evil serpent Apep, who threatened to throw the world into disorder.
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