<em>Dog Mummy</em>, 510–230 B.C.E. Animal remains, linen, 17 × 5 7/8 × 3 1/4 in. (43.2 × 14.9 × 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1984E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.1984E_37.1988E_GrpA_SL4.jpg)

Dog Mummy, 510–230 B.C.E. Animal remains, linen, 17 × 5 7/8 × 3 1/4 in. (43.2 × 14.9 × 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1984E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.1984E_37.1988E_GrpA_SL4.jpg)

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Any idea as to type of dog?

We don't actually have genetic information on these two dog mummies but because of their size they are likely desert dogs of some kind. Like most images of dogs in ancient Egypt, they were likely associated with the god Anubis or Wepwawet

No X-ray either? Perhaps they were puppies.

No, none on view unfortunately. They did do C-14 dating on the linen wrapping but the animal remains may have been too fragile or deteriorated to take a sample.

Yes, puppies are most definitely an option as well. We have evidence of ancient Egyptians mummifying kittens, juvenile crocodiles, and young ibises as well.

Thanks for your feedback.

Tell me more about the beautiful art of wrapping. So detailed and patterned. Lovely!

Often the type of wrapping was partially dictated by the animal underneath, helping to mimmic the shape when bundled. At other times, elaborate wrappings compensated for the mummy inside, which may not have been the whole or desired animal. We have a wrapping that looks like a bull where this is very clearly the case. Wrapping styles also varied based on time period.

The mummy you're looking at, meanwhile, is wrapped in a style associated with the Roman Period from 30 B.C.E–395 C.E.

The various patterns of the linen, diamond or coffered boxes is very striking indicating great attention to detail and artistic vision.

Yes, it is incredible to think of the care that went into these objects that would be seen by so few.

I also find it fascinating that the architectural pattern of coffering was transferred to mummies. It is just one example of the melding of Egyptian and Roman aesthetics.

Why did they mummify animals?

The Egyptians believed that animals had souls and, if they were properly mummified, could carry messages to the gods.

So if you wanted to send a message to the god Anubis, you would go to a temple that specialized in mummifying dogs and would buy a dog mummy from a priest. The priest would recite spells and place the mummy in a special dog cemetery.

One dog cemetery had over 7 million mummies in it! Apparently, ancient Egyptians had a lot to say to Anubis! Some were asking for help with health, work, etc. Very similar to prayers today.

Dog Mummy

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Scholars associate the coffered, box-like pattern of linen wrapping on this dog mummy with the Roman Period in Egypt (30 B.C.E.–395 C.E.). Yet carbon 14 dating of a linen sample from this mummy suggests the linen is at least two hundred years older than that period. Either very old linen was recycled in the process of mummy making or this distinctive pattern of wrapping existed earlier than scholars had suspected. Future tests might resolve this question by sampling and testing the animal itself.

MEDIUM Animal remains, linen

Place Made: Egypt

DATES 510–230 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 27, or later

PERIOD Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

DIMENSIONS 17 × 5 7/8 × 3 1/4 in. (43.2 × 14.9 × 8.3 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1984E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Mummified dog, with decorative patterns made up of interlaced bands of cloth. The head modeled in coated linen, painted.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Dog Mummy, 510–230 B.C.E. Animal remains, linen, 17 × 5 7/8 × 3 1/4 in. (43.2 × 14.9 × 8.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1984E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.1984E_37.1988E_GrpA_SL4.jpg)

IMAGE 37.1984E_37.1988E_GrpA_SL4.jpg.

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.

Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Any idea as to type of dog?

No X-ray either? Perhaps they were puppies.

No, none on view unfortunately. They did do C-14 dating on the linen wrapping but the animal remains may have been too fragile or deteriorated to take a sample.

Yes, puppies are most definitely an option as well. We have evidence of ancient Egyptians mummifying kittens, juvenile crocodiles, and young ibises as well.

Thanks for your feedback.

Tell me more about the beautiful art of wrapping. So detailed and patterned. Lovely!

The mummy you're looking at, meanwhile, is wrapped in a style associated with the Roman Period from 30 B.C.E–395 C.E.

The various patterns of the linen, diamond or coffered boxes is very striking indicating great attention to detail and artistic vision.

Yes, it is incredible to think of the care that went into these objects that would be seen by so few.

I also find it fascinating that the architectural pattern of coffering was transferred to mummies. It is just one example of the melding of Egyptian and Roman aesthetics.

Why did they mummify animals?

The Egyptians believed that animals had souls and, if they were properly mummified, could carry messages to the gods.

One dog cemetery had over 7 million mummies in it! Apparently, ancient Egyptians had a lot to say to Anubis! Some were asking for help with health, work, etc. Very similar to prayers today.

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Dog Mummy

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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Dog Mummy

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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