Illustrated Papyrus

MEDIUM Papyrus, pigment, ink

Reportedly From: Memphis, Egypt

DATES 4th–3rd century B.C.E.

PERIOD Early Ptolemaic Period

DIMENSIONS 37.1647Ec: 18 7/8 × 14 in. (48 × 35.5 cm)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1647Ec

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Three large fragments on each of which is preserved a representation of a deity. They are, as mounted, from left to right: a representation of a nude child, striding right, and wearing a tight cap-like hair-do and sidelock. He is crowned with a crescent and a sun-disk and wears a broad collar. He holds a finger of his left hand to his mouth: in his right hand he holds an Ankh-sign. Above him there is a red band. The god’s body and face are painted red. The rest of the representation is yellow with black outlines and details. To the right of this deity is a representation, on another fragment of papyrus, of Osiris. Osiris is represented as wearing the Atef-crown, and wearing mummiform garment decorated with a lozenge pattern. He holds to his chest the crook and flail. A long cape hangs from his shoulders. The skin, tight-fitting garment, and the edges of the cape are painted red. The rest of the figure is yellow with black outlines and details. Above Osiris is a horizontal red band. To the right of Osiris is another fragment of papyrus bearing a representation of a god, facing right, who wears a tall feathered crown, broad collar, and a short kilt (Amun?). He holds the Ankh-sign, and the Was-scepter. The god’s skin and the top of the scepter are painted red. Painted yellow are the crown, collar, half of the kilt (the other half is painted black), the Ankh, and the lower part of the scepter (the bottom of the scepter lacks the two prongs commonly found on this emblem). Below the figure is a red band below which is a vertical black band. Condition: Fragmentary.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

RECORD COMPLETENESS