Outer Coffin of the Singer of Amun Nauny
The Lady of the House, Singer of Amun, and Royal Daughter, Nauny, was buried in a nested set of coffins. These consisted of this outer coffin, an inner coffin, and a mummy board that was meant to be laid directly over her wrapped body.
All three pieces of the set were originally made for Nauny's mother, Tentabekhenet—the Nauny's name was substituted in many places, but her mother’s name remains visible in others. The outer coffin and the mummy board are made of sycomore, while the inner coffin is made of coniferous wood. Each was coated with a preparatory paste layer and then richly painted with texts and images designed to support Nauny's transformation into a deified being capable of existing eternally in the afterlife.
The faces of all three components were once gilded, symbolizing Nauny's connection to the divine, as the ancient Egyptians imagined that the skin of the gods was of gold. Although most of the precious metal was stripped away by thieves in antiquity, traces of the original gilding still remain.
All three pieces of the set were originally made for Nauny's mother, Tentabekhenet—the Nauny's name was substituted in many places, but her mother’s name remains visible in others. The outer coffin and the mummy board are made of sycomore, while the inner coffin is made of coniferous wood. Each was coated with a preparatory paste layer and then richly painted with texts and images designed to support Nauny's transformation into a deified being capable of existing eternally in the afterlife.
The faces of all three components were once gilded, symbolizing Nauny's connection to the divine, as the ancient Egyptians imagined that the skin of the gods was of gold. Although most of the precious metal was stripped away by thieves in antiquity, traces of the original gilding still remain.
Artwork Details
- Title: Outer Coffin of the Singer of Amun Nauny
- Period: Third Intermediate Period
- Dynasty: Dynasty 21
- Date: ca. 1050 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Tomb of Meritamun (TT 358, MMA 65), burial of Nauny, box in first corridor near well; lid against wall at turn in corridor, MMA excavations, 1928–29
- Medium: Sycomore wood, mud, glue, stucco, paint, varnish, plaster
- Dimensions: L. 228 cm (89 3/4 in.); W. 83 cm (32 11/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1930
- Object Number: 30.3.23a, b
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 1580–1479 B.C.
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
ca. 1390–1352 B.C.
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
ca. 1349–1330 B.C. or shortly thereafter
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.