Coffin

Museum number:
6-1983
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21060001983
Accession number:
Acc.54
Description:
Large rectangular wooden coffin with painted inscription from the First Intermediate Period, Dynasties 7–11 (pre-reunification). The wood is very likely Ficus sycomorus based on analysis of wood from similar First Intermediate Period coffins from the same cemetery (3500). The occupant was a woman named Swhit (Shyt). The text on the coffin gives her titles as "Sole Royal Ornament" and "Priestess of Hathor." The fact that she has an inscribed coffin and was buried in a chamber in a rock-cut tomb indicates that she was of high status. These same titles were also held by many other high status women similarly buried at Naga ed Der.
Donor:
Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Collection place:
Tomb 3587 (87), Cemetery 3500, Naga-ed-Der
Verbatim coll. place:
Cemetery 3500; Tomb 87
Culture or time period:
2nd Dynasty of Egypt (2890–2686 BC) and 3rd Dynasty of Egypt (2686–2125 BC)
Collector:
George Andrew Reisner
Collection date:
1901
Materials:
Wood (plant material) (probably ficus sycomorus)
Taxon:
Ficus sycomorus
Person depicted:
Horus (Egyptian deity)
Inscription:
Back of coffin: A gift that the King gives and Osiris, Lord of Busiris, Foremost of the Westerners, Lord of Abydos, and Anubis, Foremost of the Westerners, (namely) invocation offerings of bread and beer for the revered one, the Sole Royal Ornament, Priestess of Hathor, Swhit., Lid of coffin: A gift which the King gives and Anubis, Lord of the District, (namely) her good burial in her tomb in the desert necropolis, the revered one before the Great Gods, the Sole Royal Ornament, Priestess of Hathor, Swhit., Coffin end: Invocation offerings of bread and beer for the revered one, Priestess of Hathor, Swhit., Coffin end: Invocation offerings of bread and beer for the revered one, the Sole Royal Ornament, Priestess of Hathor, Swhit., and Front of coffin: A gift that the King gives and Anubis, who is upon his mountain (and who is) in the place of embalming, lord of the Sacred Land, (namely) invocation offerings of bread and beer for the revered one before the Great God, lord of the sky, the Sole Royal Ornament, Priestess of Hathor, Swhit.
Object type:
archaeology
Object class:
Coffins
Accession date:
October 8, 1902
Department:
Ancient Egypt
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 5 titled Coffin, accession number 6-1983, described as Large rectangular wooden coffin with painted inscription from the First Intermediate Period, Dynasties 7–11 (pre-reunification). The wood is very likely Ficus sycomorus based on analysis of wood from similar First Intermediate Period coffins from the same cemetery (3500). The occupant was a woman named Swhit (Shyt). The text on the coffin gives her titles as "Sole Royal Ornament" and "Priestess of Hathor." The fact that she has an inscribed coffin and was buried in a chamber in a rock-cut tomb indicates that she was of high status. These same titles were also held by many other high status women similarly buried at Naga ed Der.Hearst Museum object 2 of 5 titled Coffin, accession number 6-1983, described as Large rectangular wooden coffin with painted inscription from the First Intermediate Period, Dynasties 7–11 (pre-reunification). The wood is very likely Ficus sycomorus based on analysis of wood from similar First Intermediate Period coffins from the same cemetery (3500). The occupant was a woman named Swhit (Shyt). The text on the coffin gives her titles as "Sole Royal Ornament" and "Priestess of Hathor." The fact that she has an inscribed coffin and was buried in a chamber in a rock-cut tomb indicates that she was of high status. These same titles were also held by many other high status women similarly buried at Naga ed Der.Hearst Museum object 3 of 5 titled Coffin, accession number 6-1983, described as Large rectangular wooden coffin with painted inscription from the First Intermediate Period, Dynasties 7–11 (pre-reunification). The wood is very likely Ficus sycomorus based on analysis of wood from similar First Intermediate Period coffins from the same cemetery (3500). The occupant was a woman named Swhit (Shyt). The text on the coffin gives her titles as "Sole Royal Ornament" and "Priestess of Hathor." The fact that she has an inscribed coffin and was buried in a chamber in a rock-cut tomb indicates that she was of high status. These same titles were also held by many other high status women similarly buried at Naga ed Der.Hearst Museum object 4 of 5 titled Coffin, accession number 6-1983, described as Large rectangular wooden coffin with painted inscription from the First Intermediate Period, Dynasties 7–11 (pre-reunification). The wood is very likely Ficus sycomorus based on analysis of wood from similar First Intermediate Period coffins from the same cemetery (3500). The occupant was a woman named Swhit (Shyt). The text on the coffin gives her titles as "Sole Royal Ornament" and "Priestess of Hathor." The fact that she has an inscribed coffin and was buried in a chamber in a rock-cut tomb indicates that she was of high status. These same titles were also held by many other high status women similarly buried at Naga ed Der.Hearst Museum object 5 of 5 titled Coffin, accession number 6-1983, described as Large rectangular wooden coffin with painted inscription from the First Intermediate Period, Dynasties 7–11 (pre-reunification). The wood is very likely Ficus sycomorus based on analysis of wood from similar First Intermediate Period coffins from the same cemetery (3500). The occupant was a woman named Swhit (Shyt). The text on the coffin gives her titles as "Sole Royal Ornament" and "Priestess of Hathor." The fact that she has an inscribed coffin and was buried in a chamber in a rock-cut tomb indicates that she was of high status. These same titles were also held by many other high status women similarly buried at Naga ed Der.

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