Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Shrew Coffin of Pahapy

664–30 B.C.E.

1 of 8

Object Label

Bronze coffins added value to votive mummies and possibly were thought to help influence the god to help the petitioner. A man named Pahapy used this coffin for a shrew mummy. The Egyptians regarded shrews as guardians of the sun god Re and included requests to him in many types of animal cemeteries.

Caption

Shrew Coffin of Pahapy, 664–30 B.C.E.. Bronze, 2 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., 0.6 lb. (5.4 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm, 0.25kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.411Ea. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer))

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Shrew Coffin of Pahapy

Date

664–30 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 26, or later

Period

Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

Geography

Possible place made: Lower Egypt, Egypt

Medium

Bronze

Classification

Remains, Animal

Dimensions

2 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., 0.6 lb. (5.4 x 3.8 x 8.9 cm, 0.25kg)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

37.411Ea

Frequent Art Questions

  • What Egyptian god is the shrew is supposed to be associated with?

    Shrews were used to stand in for the ichneumon, the African mongoose. The ichneumon was associated with Horus and the god Atum, and was worshipped for it's ability to see in the dark and ability to kill snakes.
    You might have seen a small statue of a king and (much larger) Ichneumon elsewhere in the exhibition!
    Interesting! I knew the ichneumon was variously worshipped, also as the goddess Mafdet, but I didn't know the shrew could be a possible stand-in for it.
    Isn't it fascinating?
    It really is!

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