Nubian. <em>Mummy Tag with Greek Inscription</em>, 150–300 C.E. Wood, ink, 4 1/2 x 2 5/16 x 3/8 in. (11.4 x 5.8 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1396E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1396E_front_PS1.jpg)

Nubian. Mummy Tag with Greek Inscription, 150–300 C.E. Wood, ink, 4 1/2 x 2 5/16 x 3/8 in. (11.4 x 5.8 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1396E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1396E_front_PS1.jpg)

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Mummy Tag with Greek Inscription

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Preserving the name of the deceased was essential to rebirth in the afterlife. In the Roman Period, wooden tags were attached to mummies to help preserve the name for eternity. In Greek the tag on the right (37.1395E) reads, “Horos, son of Psenmonthes, stonecutter”; in Demotic Egyptian it reads, “The Osiris, Horus, son of Psenmonth, the stonecutter and the Prophet of Imhotep.” The tag on the left reads in Greek, “Pecheisis, son of Apollonius. He lived fifty-eight years.”

CULTURES Nubian; Greek; Egyptian

MEDIUM Wood, ink

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Reportedly from: Egypt
Possible place made: Dongola, Sudan (ancient Nubia)

DATES 150–300 C.E.

PERIOD Roman Period (probably)

DIMENSIONS 4 1/2 x 2 5/16 x 3/8 in. (11.4 x 5.8 x 1 cm) (show scale)

INSCRIPTIONS Peleis, son of Apollonios. He lived fifty-eight years.

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1396E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Wooden mummy ticket. Wedge-shaped at top with hole for attachment. Painted lettering of six lines in Greek. Back plain. Inscription reads: Pecheisis, son of Apollonios. He lived fifty-eight years.” Condition: Good.

EXHIBITIONS

To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Nubian. Mummy Tag with Greek Inscription, 150–300 C.E. Wood, ink, 4 1/2 x 2 5/16 x 3/8 in. (11.4 x 5.8 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1396E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1396E_front_PS1.jpg)

IMAGE front, 37.1396E_front_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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