The sarcophagus takes the shape of a mummified human figure, which in the afterlife becomes one with Osiris, the god of the dead. The head in a wig is framed by vulture wings. Below the necklace, kneeling on the sign of gold (a symbol of life after death), is the sky goddess Nut. The climax of the journey to the world of the dead is depicted in the first band of decoration on the lid. During the judgement before Osiris and other deities, the heart is weighed, bearing witness to the deceased’s life. A favourable outcome—the heart being balanced against the feather of the goddess Maat, who embodies the order of the world—ensures admission to the realm of the dead. In the band below, on the embalming bed, lies the mummy, over which hovers the indestructible spiritual force of the human being (ba), depicted in the form of a bird. The name of the deceased – Takhenemti – is found in an inscription at the top of the sarcophagus.
In the 1990s, the remains of Takhenemti underwent radiological and CT scans. It is known that a young woman, about twenty years old, rests in the sarcophagus. It is unknown why she died; it was also not a wealthy burial, as only one amulet was found among the bandages.
We invite you to explore the entry for this object in the digital catalogue of the National Museum in Kraków.
Author of the entry: Dorota Gorzelany-Nowak
