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Ibis Egg Mummy

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

The CT scan reproduced here shows that this egg-shaped wrapping conceals what is probably a small bird. Egyptian priests incubated bird eggs, which perhaps were taken from nests or laid by birds in captivity. Priests in animal sanctuaries took responsibility for breeding and feeding the birds until it was time to make them into mummies.
MEDIUM Animal remains, linen
DATES 30 B.C.E. – 100 C.E.
PERIOD Early Roman Period
DIMENSIONS 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 3 in. (6.4 × 6.4 × 7.6 cm) as mounted: 3 1/2 × 5 × 5 in. (8.9 × 12.7 × 12.7 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 14.654
CREDIT LINE Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Ibis Egg Mummy, 30 B.C.E. – 100 C.E. Animal remains, linen, 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 3 in. (6.4 × 6.4 × 7.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 14.654. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 14.654_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 14.654_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 2012
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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