<em>Ibis Jar Coffin</em>, 30 B.C.E.–100 C.E. Clay, plaster, Jar: 8 × 7 × 17 in. (20.3 × 17.8 × 43.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 14.656a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.14.656a-b_view1.jpg)

Ibis Jar Coffin, 30 B.C.E.–100 C.E. Clay, plaster, Jar: 8 × 7 × 17 in. (20.3 × 17.8 × 43.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 14.656a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.14.656a-b_view1.jpg)

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Is this a dog mummy?

This ceramic coffin belonged to an Ibis, a type of bird that ancient Egyptians associated with the god of wisdom, Thoth.

Did the animals die of natural causes before mummification? Or were they killed for sacrifice?

It depends on the animal. We know that ibises were raised in farms to be killed and mummified, because there was such a demand to send messages to the god Thoth and because ibises could be raised in captivity. On the other hand, animals like falcons were harder to raise for this purpose, so some probably died of natural causes.

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How did the museum acquire these mummies?

We acquired many of them from the New York Historical Society which acquired them from other collectors. Others, like this ceramic coffin, were acquired directly from excavators working for the Egypt Exploration Society a British organization that conducts scientific excavations.

Ibis Jar Coffin

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Ceramic jars were common, inexpensive coffins for animal mummies. There were two types of lids. In the first, a lid for an ordinary jar could be fashioned from mud and straw. In the second, an opening could be made in the jar while the clay was still wet; both the jar and its cover could then be fired together.

MEDIUM Clay, plaster

DATES 30 B.C.E.–100 C.E.

PERIOD Early Roman Period

DIMENSIONS Jar: 8 × 7 × 17 in. (20.3 × 17.8 × 43.2 cm) Lid: 3 × 6 × 9 in. (7.6 × 15.2 × 22.9 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 14.656a-b

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund

EXHIBITIONS

Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Ibis Jar Coffin, 30 B.C.E.–100 C.E. Clay, plaster, Jar: 8 × 7 × 17 in. (20.3 × 17.8 × 43.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 14.656a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.14.656a-b_view1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, CUR.14.656a-b_view1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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