Collection
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Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Ibis Mummy

Egyptian

1 of 4

Object Label

The ideal votive animal mummy, as shown in the X-ray here, contains one animal wrapped in the linen package. Yet without an X-ray or CT scan, it is impossible to know whether an additional animal, or no animal at all, was included in the wrappings.

Egyptians of the first millennium b.c.e. believed that they could appeal to the god Thoth to intercede in human affairs. Ibis mummies allowed such a petitioner to send a message to the god.

Caption

Egyptian. Ibis Mummy, 400–110 B.C.E.. Animal remains (Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus or an African Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus), linen, pigment, 4 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 11 1/4 in. (12.1 × 7 × 28.6 cm) mount (display dims on support board): 4 1/2 × 8 1/2 × 15 in. (11.4 × 21.6 × 38.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, X1179.4. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Culture

Egyptian

Title

Ibis Mummy

Date

400–110 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 27, or later

Period

Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Animal remains (Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus or an African Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus), linen, pigment

Classification

Remains, Animal

Dimensions

4 3/4 × 2 3/4 × 11 1/4 in. (12.1 × 7 × 28.6 cm) mount (display dims on support board): 4 1/2 × 8 1/2 × 15 in. (11.4 × 21.6 × 38.1 cm)

Credit Line

Brooklyn Museum Collection

Accession Number

X1179.4

Frequent Art Questions

  • What is the ibis mummy

    Hi! An ibis is a type of water bird with a long, curved beak. The ancient Egyptians associated them with Thoth, the god of wisdom and writing.
    There were certain temples where the priests bred the birds specifically to be mummified and sold to the public for making donations to the god.
    Thank you!!

  • What did the ibis symbolize something that made them so popular?

    Their long beak resembled the reed pens used by scribes, which is how they came to be associated with the god Thoth.

Have information?

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Artists and makers

Egyptian

178 works in the collection