Journey to the Afterlife
Despite the influence of foreign rule, the Egyptians preserved their ancient customs when preparing for eternal life. One such tradition was the decoration of anthropoid (human-shaped) sarcophagi according to a common theme – rebirth. Each sarcophagus represents the mummy form of the deceased, or the ‘Osiris form’, which he or she acquires as a result of mummification rituals. The placement of text and images on the sarcophagus would activate transformation into a follower of Osiris, the Egyptian lord of the dead and protector of eternal life. Such deeply rooted beliefs about the afterlife persisted through Greek and later Roman rule.
Ptolemaic Era Sarcophagi Wrapping Example
Ptolemaic Sarcophagi
Preserving the body: the sarcophagus
In ancient Egypt, preserving the body was a fundamental condition for a safe journey to eternity. Sarcophagi (stone coffins) are attested for the first time in the 3rd Dynasty and could only be afforded by wealthy people. Beside protecting the body, sarcophagi also played several religious and symbolic functions. In the Old Kingdom, rectangular sarcophagi were often constructed to resemble the recessed niches associated with elaborate, walled dwellings, recalling the belief that the deceased dwelled in the tomb. Early coffins were usually undecorated, but in the later Old Kingdom, they were inscribed with offering formulas and protective images.
Prehistory Sarcophagi
Basket Sarcophagi
Oval Basket coffin with rectangular lid containing a contracted burial wrapped in linen and tied with palm ropes Archaic period (I-III Dyn.) Tarkhan near Kafr Ammar.
Stone Made Sarcophagi
Children’s Sarcophagi
Ramesses II, Ramesses the Great Kids. He had around 12 sons and none of them succeeded him because all of them died prematurely and because he died very old. The following are two sarcophagi belonging to two of his sons. Their sarcophagi were strip of all valuable metals and stones. In those times maximum live expectancy was 52 years old which means most people died very young.
Other Children’s Sarcophagi
Similar Style Sarcophagi
Special Sarcophagi & Sarcophagi Interior/Exterior
Wood Sarcophagi
Coffin of the general “Sepi”
Center Last Image. 12th dynasty – Bersheh – Wood – Rectangular sarcophagus, now separating, containing anthropoid coffin the interior walls of the coffin is covered with funerary text and pictures of objects owned by Sepi that he wished to keep in the afterlife. the rest is displayed on the right case.
Egyptian Games
The best-known ancient Egyptian games are Mehen and Senet. Mehen was played on a board shaped like a coiled snake, while Senet was played on a grid of 30 squares arranged in three rows of ten. Various kinds of game pieces have survived, but the rules of both games are not known. They may have had a ritual function alongside their leisure use.
Paddle Dolls
Balls
