Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Coffin and Cover of Princess Mayet

ca. 2008–1957 B.C.E.

1 of 18

Object Label

Princess Mayet, a wife of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep, the founder of the Middle Kingdom and a great conqueror, died very young. As was typical in the Middle Kingdom, her coffin is rectangular with a flat cover. The cover has a single line of painted inscription, an offering formula, down the center. A similar formula appears on the sides of the coffin. A pair of magical eyes painted at the end on one long side allows the deceased to see when the priest makes offerings.

Caption

Coffin and Cover of Princess Mayet, ca. 2008–1957 B.C.E.. Wood (Mediterranean cypress - Cupressus sempervirens, Sycamore fig - ficus sycomorus, tamarisk - Tamarix sp.), pigment, 19 × 15 1/2 × 72 in. (48.3 × 39.4 × 182.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 52.127a-b. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Coffin and Cover of Princess Mayet

Date

ca. 2008–1957 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 11

Period

Middle Kingdom

Geography

Place excavated: Thebes (Deir el-Bahri), Egypt

Medium

Wood (Mediterranean cypress - Cupressus sempervirens, Sycamore fig - ficus sycomorus, tamarisk - Tamarix sp.), pigment

Classification

Funerary Object

Dimensions

19 × 15 1/2 × 72 in. (48.3 × 39.4 × 182.9 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

52.127a-b

Frequent Art Questions

  • Who is Princess Mayet?

    Princess Mayet was the wife of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep, the founder of the Middle Kingdom and a great conqueror. She died very young.

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