About this artwork
Ancient Egyptians dedicated animal coffins like this wooden example in temples, tailoring the enclosed mummified animal to one that had a specific connection with the deity whose favor was sought. The mummified animal’s soul acted as a messenger between the human and divine realms, seeking resolution to issues such as illness or crimes committed against its dedicator. The feline form of this empty coffin suggests that it was presented to Bastet, a goddess revered for her motherly qualities who often assumed the form of a cat or cat-headed woman.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
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Title
- Cat Coffin
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Place
- Egypt (Object made in:)
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Date
- 664 BCE–32 BCE
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Medium
- Wood and plaster
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Dimensions
- 63.5 × 22.3 × 52 cm (25 × 8 3/4 × 20 7/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne
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Reference Number
- 1922.4800
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/5522/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.