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Box for a Mummified Animal with Cobra Figure

A work made of copper alloy.
Public Domain

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  • A work made of copper alloy.

Date:

Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (664–30 BCE)

Artist:

Egyptian

About this artwork

The body of this rearing cobra figure is supported by an ostrich feather, the symbol of the goddess Maat, who personified truth and justice. The box below (now empty) once contained a mummified animal. Ancient Egyptians presented objects like this in temples as votive gifts to gods and goddesses, tailoring the enclosed mummified animal to one that had a specific connection with the deity whose favor was sought. Such a gift in a sacred space could help ensure that the prayer would be received. The hieroglyphic inscription on the front of this box names the man who dedicated it and invokes Atum, a creator god whom the ancient Egyptians sometimes depicted in the form of a snake.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Ancient Egyptian

Title

Box for a Mummified Animal with Cobra Figure

Place

Egypt (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

664 BCE–30 BCE

Medium

Copper alloy

Dimensions

8.4 × 4.1 × 8.7 cm (3 5/16 × 1 5/8 × 3 7/16 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

Reference Number

1893.19

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/135132/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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