Ibis Egg Mummy
30 B.C.E. – 100 C.E.
Brooklyn Museum photograph (Gavin Ashworth, photographer)
Object Label
The CT scan reproduced here shows that this egg-shaped wrapping conceals what is probably a small bird. Egyptian priests incubated bird eggs, which perhaps were taken from nests or laid by birds in captivity. Priests in animal sanctuaries took responsibility for breeding and feeding the birds until it was time to make them into mummies.
Caption
Ibis Egg Mummy, 30 B.C.E. – 100 C.E.. Animal remains, linen, 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 3 in. (6.4 × 6.4 × 7.6 cm) as mounted: 3 1/2 × 5 × 5 in. (8.9 × 12.7 × 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 14.654. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer))
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Title
Ibis Egg Mummy
Date
30 B.C.E. – 100 C.E.
Period
Early Roman Period
Medium
Animal remains, linen
Classification
Dimensions
2 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 3 in. (6.4 × 6.4 × 7.6 cm) as mounted: 3 1/2 × 5 × 5 in. (8.9 × 12.7 × 12.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Egypt Exploration Fund
Accession Number
14.654
Frequent Art Questions
We're the linen strips soaked with something that would make them adhere?
Yes, the linen was soaked with a type of natural resin.
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