Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Shrew Coffin with Mummy

664–332 B.C.E.

1 of 5

Object Label

Shrews and ichneumons both prey on snakes and therefore won the Egyptians’ admiration and worship. Though snakes could turn their powers to protecting kings and queens, serpents also threatened the sun god Re on his journey through the next world. Egyptian religion made room for both the positive and negative aspects of certain animals.

The shrew mummy bundle shows that more than one animal was sometimes included in one package.

Caption

Shrew Coffin with Mummy, 664–332 B.C.E.. Wood, pigment, animal remains, linen, 37.1362Ea Coffin: 3 1/4 × 2 5/8 × 6 3/4 in. (8.3 × 6.7 × 17.1 cm) 37.136Eb Panel: 1 3/8 × 1/4 × 6 1/8 in. (3.5 × 0.6 × 15.5 cm) 37.1362Ec (Mummy): 1 × 1 × 4 13/16 in. (2.6 × 2.6 × 12.3 cm) mount (display dims with door closed): 3 1/4 × 3 × 6 7/8 in. (8.3 × 7.6 × 17.5 cm) mount (display dims with door open): 3 1/4 × 3 × 8 1/2 in. (8.3 × 7.6 × 21. Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1362Ea-c. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer))

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Shrew Coffin with Mummy

Date

664–332 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 26, or later

Period

Late Period, or later

Geography

Reportedly from: Saqqara, Egypt

Medium

Wood, pigment, animal remains, linen

Classification

Remains, Animal

Dimensions

37.1362Ea Coffin: 3 1/4 × 2 5/8 × 6 3/4 in. (8.3 × 6.7 × 17.1 cm) 37.136Eb Panel: 1 3/8 × 1/4 × 6 1/8 in. (3.5 × 0.6 × 15.5 cm) 37.1362Ec (Mummy): 1 × 1 × 4 13/16 in. (2.6 × 2.6 × 12.3 cm) mount (display dims with door closed): 3 1/4 × 3 × 6 7/8 in. (8.3 × 7.6 × 17.5 cm) mount (display dims with door open): 3 1/4 × 3 × 8 1/2 in. (8.3 × 7.6 × 21

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

37.1362Ea-c

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!

  • Tell me more.

    This is a wooden coffin with a shrew figurine on top. Shrews were associated with the sun god. Because of their night vision and talent at killing snakes , they aided the sun god in his battle against the evil serpent Apep, who threatened to throw the world into disorder.

Have information?

Have information about an artwork? Contact us at

bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.