Part of National Museums Liverpool

Mummified Ibis

1969.112.42

Part of

Ancient Egypt collection

Search through 4,680 items from across our internationally significant Egyptology collection. The full collection is one of the largest in the UK with nearly 20,000 items spanning from the Prehistoric (about 5300 BC) to the end of the Byzantine Period (AD 642). Month by month we are making more records available online.

About this object

This mummy bundle has elaborate diamond patterned wrapping, but X-rays revealed that the contents are not of a complete animal. The bundle contains some vertebrae, a long bone, the skull and beak from a Sacred Ibis. The god Thoth sometimes took the form of the Sacred Ibis bird.

Described as from "recent excavations from unstratified deposits, mostly of the Late Period". This mummy was one of many thousands discovered by Professor Walter Bryan Emery for the Egypt Exploration Society at Saqqara. Excavation between 1965 and 1972 (excavation no. 532 from area 3508-157 / H5-1632). The mummy was X-rayed and CT imaged at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on 19th April 2016 as part of the University of Manchester’s Animal Bio Bank Project.

Object specifics

  • Type
    Animal Remains
  • Culture
    Late Period; Ptolemaic
  • Artist/Maker
  • Place made
    Africa: Northern Africa: Egypt: Memphite Necropolis: Saqqara
  • Date made
    664 BC - 30 BC about
  • Materials
    Bird; Textile
  • Location
    World Museum, Level 3, Ancient Egypt Gallery
  • Acquisition
    Gift of the Egypt Exploration Society, 1969
  • Collector
    Egypt Exploration Society
  • Place collected
    Africa: Northern Africa: Egypt: Memphite Necropolis: Saqqara
  • Date collected
    1968 - 1969
  • Measurements
    140 mm x 150 mm x 430 mm
  • Note
    Conserved for display in 2000 and an X Ray is kept in the Organic Conservation department records.
  • Related people
    Egypt Exploration Society ( Collector, previous owner)

Explore related

Publications

  • Complex organic chemical balms of Pharaonic animal mummies Nature vol. 431

    Buckley, Stephen A; Clark, Katherine A; Evershed, Richard P

    Author: Buckley, Stephen A; Clark, Katherine A; Evershed, Richard P
    Publisher: Nature
    Date: 2004-09-16
    Description: A report of chemical investigations of mummified animals which revealed the presence of highly complex balms of comparable complexity to those used to mummify humans.

Events

  • Gifts for the Gods: Animal Mummies Revealed

    Start date: 2015-10-08
    End date: 2015-10-08
    Description: This fascinating exhibition explores ancient Egyptian animal mummies, prepared in their millions as votive offerings to the gods. Discover the background behind this religious practice in the context of life in ancient Egypt and the environment in which the animals lived. Featuring mummified specimens such as jackals, crocodiles, cats and birds, the exhibition will also include a recreation of a subterranean animal catacomb, creating an immersive and atmospheric experience. Using animal mummies from a variety of UK collections, the exhibition will also look at the use of science, such as CT imaging, to learn more about the subject. World Museum has worked on this exhibition in partnership with Manchester Museum, Glasgow Museums and The University of Manchester. The touring exhibition will be hosted at three cities - Manchester: 8 October 2015 2016 - 17 April 2016 Glasgow: May 2016 - June 2016 Liverpool:14 October 2016 - 26 February 2017

Ownership

Previous owners

Object view = Humanities
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