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Mummy Bandage from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache

New Kingdom
ca. 1336–1327 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 122
In December 1907 Theodore M. Davis, a wealthy American who was funding excavations in the Valley of the Kings, discovered a small pit near the tomb of Seti I. Inside the pit were approximately a dozen large sealed whitewashed storage jars (09.184.1). Among other things, the jars contained bags of natron (a kind of salt), pieces of linen with hieratic inscriptions dated to Years 6 and 8 of a king named Tutankhamun (throne name Nebkheperure). At the time, almost nothing was know about Tutankhamun, and Davis declared that he had discovered the king's tomb.

Davis received a number of the jars and their contents in the division of finds and, in 1909, he gave most of his share to the Metropolitan Museum. It was only later that Herbert Winlock, the field director of the Museum's excavations at Thebes, realized that the natron and linen were embalming refuse from the mummification of Tutankhamun.

In ancient Egypt, linen was a valuable commodity used for clothing, bedding, blankets, cushions and other purposes. when it became too worn to be used by the living, it was put asside and used for mummification. In general, the bandages used to wrap a mummy were torn from old old linen sheets, but a number of the bandages from Tutankhamun's embalming cache, including this one that has a selvedge edge on both sides, were specially woven for this purpose.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mummy Bandage from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: reign of Tutankhamun
  • Date: ca. 1336–1327 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Valley of the Kings, Embalming Cache of Tutankhamun (KV 54), Davis/Ayrton excavations, 1907–08
  • Medium: Linen
  • Dimensions: L. 165 cm (64 15/16 in.); W. 6 cm (2 3/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Theodore M. Davis, 1909
  • Object Number: 09.184.797
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Folded Piece of Linen with Hieratic Inscription, Linen
Folded Piece of Linen with Hieratic Inscription
ca. 1961–1917 B.C.
Model of a Granary with Scribes, Wood, plaster, paint, linen, grain
Model of a Granary with Scribes
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
Large Oval Storage Basket, Halfa grass, palm leaf, linen cord
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ca. 1492–1473 B.C.
Floral collar from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache, Papyrus, olive leaves, persea leaves, nightshade berries, celery (?), faience, linen dyed red
Floral collar from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache
ca. 1336–1327 B.C.
Floral Collar from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache, Papyrus, olive leaves, persea leaves, cornflowers, blue lotus petals, Picris flowers, nightshade berries, faience, linen
Floral Collar from Tutankhamun's Embalming Cache
ca. 1336–1327 B.C.

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