Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
By
John Sarr
Portland, Oregon
July 2003
Introduction
What follows is a listing of the hieroglyphic inscriptions, their translation, and a brief
explanation of the scenes found on the 21st Dynasty Egyptian coffin in the Burke
Museum. In addition, a review of both texts and scenes within the context of Egyptian
religious beliefs of the period is given.
The scenes depicted on the coffin have as their source chapters from the Book of the
Dead, or what the Egyptians called the Book of Coming Forth by Day. The Book of the
Dead, a descendent of the Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts and the Middle Kingdom Coffin
Texts, appears in the New Kingdom along with other funerary texts known collectively as
the Books of the Netherworld. The purpose of this body of literature is to protect the
deceased and help him overcome all obstacles in the Netherworld that stand in the way of
obtaining eternal life. Among the important themes are prayers to Re and Osiris, a freeing
of the deceaseds ba to travel in the Netherworld to unite with the body, how to have safe
passage in the Netherworld, and a judgment before Osiris and the gods of the
Netherworld.
The Gods
There are three main deities depicted on the coffin who assure the continuance of life for
the deceased. These are Anubis, Re, and Osiris.
Anubis, God of Embalming
This god appears as a jackal or as a human with a jackal head. As the god of embalming,
he has intimate knowledge of the deceased and serves to protect the body. He is the one
who leads the reunited ba and body of the deceased before Osiris and the Netherworld
gods for judgment.
Anubis has the titles of Foremost of the Divine Booth, which indicates he is the one in
charge of mummification, and Chief Lector Priest, the one responsible for reading the
prayers at the burial.
Re the Sun God
A predominate theme of funerary literature is the daily miracle of the suns
transformation and rejuvenation. The sun sails in his bark overhead during the day and
changes in form continually, much like man changes in form during his lifetime, from a
child to a man. The sun god is Khepris beetle in the morning (Khepri can mean the one
who comes into existence), Horakhtys falcon at midday (Horakhty can mean the one
high above on the horizon), and Atums ram in the evening (Atum can mean the one who
has finished). When the sun sets, it is as if the sun has died and enters the earth. Like the
deceaseds ba, the ba of the sun enters the Netherworld, sailing in his Bark of Millions
to unite with his body. He eventually unites with his body, which is in the form of the
ruler of the Netherworld, Osiris. In this final transformed state, he is often depicted as a
djed pillar, a symbol of Osiris, with a sun disk (see right side of coffin, scene F). This
union of the ba of the sun god and body of Osiris provides the sun god with the ability to
be born again in the new day and sustains Osiris as ruler of eternity. When the ba of the
sun enters the Netherworld, the ba of the deceased travels along and joins the sun god in
his bark. In the Netherworld, the ba of the deceased, like Re, is united with its body.
Anubis then leads the reunited deceased before Osiris for his judgment, where he is
then declared true of voice and venerated and allowed to live eternally in the afterlife.
The sun god, called Ra-Horakhty-Atum, has the titles of Lord of the Two Lands, the Lord
of the Sky, and the One Who Comes Forth in the Horizon.
Osiris, King of the Netherworld
The gods themselves were not exempt from death. The myth of Osiris exemplifies this
with the telling of the death and dismemberment of the god by his brother Seth, how
Anubis and his sister/wife Isis try to restore life to him, how Isis and her sister Nephthys
mourn and guard his body, and how through Isis his son and heir, Horus, is born.
Eventually, Osiris is made king of the realm of the dead, while his son Horus becomes
king of the living on earth.
Osiris had many names referring to his role and characters. These included Wennefer, the
Perfect One, inspired by the revivification of the god; Foremost of the Westerners, which
refers to his role as sovereign; and Lord of Eternity.
3
Symbolism
Several funerary symbols are found on the coffin, these include:
9 The West: A euphemism for the Land of the Dead, the Netherworld. The West is where
the sun sets and was thought to descend to the Netherworld (Duat).
l The Horizon: The place where the sun entered the Netherworld. By extension, a
reference to the Duat or the portal to the Duat.
Imy-wt: A black bull or cowhide attached to a stand sitting in a vessel. This standard
is associated with Anubis and symbolizes the renewal of the life force.
,
Iat: The hill of the rising sun or the primeval mound where all life begins,
thus symbolizing rebirth.
6 Djed pillar: A column of bound stalks or a backbone, representing Osiris and the
hieroglyph for the word stability.
in a motif
Coffin Lid
Right and Left Side
The text appears in a single vertical column down each side of the lid.
M
! Pa
! lP
m }^ h
M
Q
P
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a
m
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}
sit1 \
3|}
;
h\
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5
kU
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h
/
X
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A q Q]
7 nn
B
t
j5!H<V < M
1 # K [ 3 6B
t !# 5
t eM
!
!
! !
B
i<%
!
>
1
1
1
1
1
, & c, ! , 3 6 , " 5, 5L ~ K , a
! "~
Right side :
t !
!
<
!
$i c M $ $
B
#
sit1 !H[!7 9 ! > < Q q k]
t ~ ~ 5h J!5 n 7M 4 q
B
!
! n vM
< > [! > < %
e
M
D
M
1
^
y
<q
W
~
+~ M ~
7 t ! ~ " <V < t ! 9 ~ R" ~
Recitation by Osiris, Foremost of the Westerners, Lord of Abydos, that they (sic) may
give an invocation offering of offerings and provisions, to go down to the sacred , to
drink, to journey in the Neshmet bark Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the
West,Lord of heaven, the Osiris (Name of the deceased*), justified.
The badly damaged name that appears at the end of each column of text also appears on the right exterior
side of the coffin. The reading of the name poses problems. If read Tadikhonsu, it is a womans name;
however the coffin and the depiction of the deceased on the coffin are male. Other possible readings are
Senkhonsu or Hukhonsu, neither of which are attested in Egyptian records. The other problem is that the
name found inside the coffin, Nesmehu, does not match the three occurrences of the name on the outside of
the coffin. It may be that the coffin was originally made for a Nesmehu and later usurped by
Senkhonsu/Hukhonsu.
Center Panel
The text appears in three vertical columns. The center column (1), which is read first, is
oriented right to left, with a yellow background. The hieroglyphs are colored red and
blue. The two outer columns on the left and right of the central column basically mirror
each other and contain the same text. The text on the left (2L) is oriented like the central
column, right to left, and the text on the right (2R) is oriented left to right. The outer
columns appear with a blue background, with yellow hieroglyphs outlined in red.
Center column (1):
t
! M7 l1 tK \7 36 O9 !4
1 <! H > <V <\ ! 7 9 ! $
s it
3|}
#
5 Pn
# !
Dd mdw Asir nb nHH xnty imntyw nTr aA pr m Axt inpw xnty sH-nTr Xry-Hb tpy st-qrst
Recitation by Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the Westerners, who goes out from the
horizon, and by Anubis, Foremost of the Divine Booth, Chief Lector Priest of the place of
burial.
Left column (2L) and right column (2R):
M
B
! > b !B
! X ! +7
t
L/
U
!
7
%
<
#D
7 !( /\
d
6
d
A
5# J
P P Q ]5
V4
5 5B!
rrr l irrr
5
Htp di nsw ra Hrw Axty itm nb m iwnw di.sn prt-xrw kAw Apdw Ss mnxt srw mDt Htpt DfAw
An offering the king gives to Ra-Horakhty-Atum, Lord of Heliopolis, so that they may
give an invocation offering of cattle, fowl, alabaster, linen, incense, ointments, offerings,
and provisions.
Coffin Interior
Sides
The interior sides are divided into three scenes with text accompanying each scene.
Right Side A:
The deceased stands before a seated Osiris, who holds a symbol of life. The text in
columns reads from left to right:
<>[ !
1 1#K [
7(/
< V < t 9 5s i t
!#
"
t 36
!
! ! !
]
/
B
D
t
5X 5, 1 & c , ! 1
Htp di nsw Asir nb nHH xnty imntyw, Dd mdw in inpw xnty sH-nTr, di.sn prt-xrw xA m kAw
Apdw, xA m Ss mnxt
An offering the king gives to Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the Westerners. And a
recitation by (sic) Anubis, Foremost of the Divine Booth, that they may give an
invocation offering of 1000 cattle and fowl, 1000 alabaster and linen.
Right Side B:
Three standing mummiform deities in a booth surmounted by a friese of uraei, which
may represent the Hall of Judgment. The two human-headed figures sport beards. The
god in the middle has a cobra head. Each has a nemest ewer in front of him. The text in
columns reads from left to right:
m P\
m ^]
U>
! nl \
Q
! V4 %l
a
<
sit1 \
3|
;
t
M 7 +h +h B
7! Pa
!
!
!
!
!
/ , ! 1 & c, L , ! 1 2 , 3 6 ,
5 5 5 5
!#
5 5
!
Dd mdw in ra Hrw Axty itm nb tAwy iwnw Smaw nTr aA pr (m) Axt Xa Atf.f xa wiA.f di.sn xA m t
Hnqt xA m Ss mnxt xA m mrHt xA m snTr
A recitation by Ra-Horakhty-Atum, Lord of the Two Lands, the southern Heliopolitan,
Great God who goes out from the horizon in his atef crown and in his bark, that they may
give an invocation offering of 1000 bread and beer, 1000 alabaster and linen, 1000
ointment jars, 1000 incense.
Right Side C:
Two mummiform, snake-headed deities with beards standing in a booth. The text reads in
a row from left to right:
P!
C 7n ! 9 !
7 aq prt m imntt
Going in and out of the West.
8
Left Side A:
The deceased stands before a seated Osiris, who holds a symbol of life. The text reads in
columns from right to left:
!/ !
!
!! : d k ]
<>[
t
B
1
( ! 7/
<
9
3|}
3
6
,
q
!# " <V < !7 j M 4 Q t !#
5
Htp di nsw Asir n nHH xnty imntt nTr Aa hry-ib AbDw di.sn prt-xrw xA m snTr
An offering the king gives to Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the West, Great God,
the one in Abydos, that they (sic) may give an invocation offering of 1000 incense.
Left Side B:
Three standing mummiform deities in a booth surmounted by a friese of uraei, which
may represent the Hall of Judgment. The two human-headed figures sport beards. The
god in the middle has a cobra head. Each has a nemest ewer in front of him. The text
reads in columns from right to left:
M V d Ua
!/
m
/
Q
P
]
a
!
\
P
( 7 !# \ 4 % 7 > a <! ;+h B
t !# , 1 & c, ! 1L 6
Htp di nsw ra Hrw Axty itm nb tAwy iwnw Smaw xa Atf.f di.sn prt-xrw xA m Ss mnxt xA m
mrHt
An offering the king gives to Ra-Horakhty-Atum, Lord of the Two Lands, the southern
Heliopolitan, (the Great God) who appears in his atef crown, that they may give an
invocation offering of 1000 alabaster and linen, 1000 ointment jars.
Left Side C:
Two mummiform, snake-headed deities with beards standing in a booth. Each has a
nemest offering jar in front of him. The text reads in a row from right to left:
n !l9
CP
aq prt m Axt imntt
Going in and out of the western horizon.
Head
At the head end of the coffin a human-headed bird, representing the ba of the deceased,
hovers with spread wings.
! Mnl
The text reads: P 7
prt m Axt
Bottom
The bottom is much damaged and little of the text remains. The area can be divided into
three scenes.
Scene 1:
The top scene has a standing Osiris with a hemhem crown surrounded by various deities
and by the deceased. At the top left is Anubis, Foremost of the Divine Booth and Chief
Lector Priest.
!
1 # K K 7 3 6O9#
At the top right is the goddess Nekhbet in vulture form, called Mistress of Heaven, Lady
of the Duat.
>>
TR
!
!#! `
In the lower right of the scene, the deceased is represented with a name above his head. It
reads: Nesmehu, justified.
L
W
6
B s< {
10
Scene 2:
A falcon-headed god sits back to back with a jackal-headed god. The text above their
head begins: A recitation by Ra-Horakhty-Atum The rest of the text is damaged.
U
! V4 %l
sit1 \
7P
Scene 3:
Two cartouches between uraeri and ankh signs. The text in the cartouches is damaged,
but probably read Osiris. In coffins of this period, the cartouches of 18th Dynasty kings
Thutmose III and Amenhotep I can also appear.
11
Coffin Exterior
The exterior is divided vertically into two sections. At the top is a frieze of uraeri with
solar disks. A border separates the lower sections, which contains seven scenes divided
by columns of text. The direction of the text is indicated by an arrow. The right side
contains 15 columns of text and the left side contains 16 columns of text. The scenes are
labeled alphabetically and the columns of text are labeled numerically, starting at the
head of the coffin.
Right Side:
Head
Foot
frieze of uraei
A
1 2
1. Damaged.
C
3 4
E
5 6 7
F
8 9 10
G
11 12 13
14 15
2. Damaged.
A. Four standing mummiform gods.
B. Mirrored Osiris figures seated on a throne. A mummiform god stand facing Osiris.
12
! !
<
sit1 " <V < [
t 7 95
>
3.
Dd mdw in Asir nb nHH xnty imntyw
A recitation by Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the Westerners.
!
1
[
7
#
O9#
4. s i t 1 K t 7 3 6
B {c
% 7t
! !
<
sit1 " <V < [
t 7 95
>
5.
Dd mdw in Asir nb nHH xnty imntyw
A recitation by Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the Westerners.
!D
1
sit ! _ M 3 / T
!R
#!
>
6.
Dd mdw in Ast wrt mwt nTr Hnwt nbt pt
A recitation by Isis the Great, Mother of the God, Mistress and Lady of Heaven.
!
9
1
[
7
#
O
i
K
3
s
1
6
t
t
#
7
7.
E. A seated Osiris faced with a vulture on the standard for the West, possibly Nekhbet,
and three mummiform gods, one with a jackal head, one with a falcon head, and one with
a cobra head.
< > [!
B
11
8. i M " <V < t 7
>
!D
T
R
B
9. i 11 M ! _ M 3 / ! # !
>
T
R
B
4
)
3
6
11
!#!
10. i M
14
! !
<
sit1 " <V < [
t 7 95
>
11.
Dd mdw in Asir nb nHH xnty imntyw
A recitation by Osiris, Lord of Eternity, Foremost of the Westerners.
>
!D
T
R
B
12. i 11 M ! _ M 3 / ! # !
A recitation by Isis the Great, Mother of the God, Mistress and Lady of Heaven.
<> !
! 3 4 |}
1
i
s
t" 95
13.
A recitation by Osiris, Lord (of Eternity, Foremost) of the Westerners, Great God.
G. Osiris seated on a throne faces the Ba bird spirit of the deceased standing on the
standard for the West. A funerary imy-wt standard is between the two figures. A vulture
and cobra appear behind the Ba, representing the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet.
< > [!
B
14. i 11 M " <V < t 7
< > [!
B
11
15. i M " <V < t 7
15
Left Side:
Foot
Head
frieze of uraei
G
16151413
12 11
<
10 9
D
8 7
C
65
43
21
! 3 4 |}
> 95
1
1. s i t "
A recitation by Osiris, Lord (of Eternity, Foremost) of the Westerners, Great God.
B. Vulture (Nekhbet) sits on the standard for the West faces standing mummiform gods,
one human-headed and one rabbit-headed.
16
<> ! ! 4
1
i
s
t " 9 $53 |}
3.
< [! R
1
5. s i t " <V < t 7
>
<> ! ! 4
1
i
s
t " 9 $53 |}
6.
A recitation by Osiris, Lord (of Eternity, Foremost) of the Westerners, Great God.
D. Mirrored image of Ra-Horakhty seated back to back, each facing a vulture standing on
the standard for the West.
< [! R
1
i
s
t " <V < t 7
7.
>
<> ! !
1
i
s
t " 9 $5!!
8.
<> ! !
1
i
s
t " <V < [ 7 9 $
9.
>
<> !
!
1
4
i
|}
s
9
3
5 R
t"
10.
nb pt
A recitation by Osiris, Lord (of Eternity, Foremost) of the Westerners, Great God, Lord
of Heaven.
F. Mirrored image of a seated Osiris. The deceaseds ba, in the form of a human-headed
bird, sits on the standard for the West with upraised arms in front of the god.
18
!
1
[
7
#
i
K
s
1
t
t 7 3 6 Dd mdw in inpw xnty sH-nTr
11.
A recitation by Anubis, Foremost of the Divine Booth.
!D
>
1
M
i
/
s
!
3
t _!
R Dd mdw in Ast wrt mwt nTr nbt pt
12.
A recitation by Isis the Great, Mother of the God, Lady of Heaven.
G. Five mummiform gods The first is Anubis and the text above the scene reads: Anubis,
Foremost of the Divine Booth, Chief Lector Priest in the place of truth (the tomb). The
others have the head of a falcon, a human, a cobra, and a human.
<>t
B
13. i 11 M " <V < !7 imAxy xr Asir nb nHH nty
Venerated before Osiris, Lord of Eternity, who is
! !7
>
[
9
3|}
R xnty imntyw nTr aA nb (pt)
14. t 7 5
19