Contracted body of a man which has been naturally mummified
This is the mummified body of a man. He was buried on his left side in a contracted position, a posture often chosen for the dead in the Early Dynastic Period and early Old Kingdom.
The body, attached at the time to a wooden bier (99.3.6 [D]), was donated to the Museum by Theodore M. Davis in 1899. Davis reported having bought this ensemble from Mohammed Mohassib in Luxor. When it arrived in the Museum the curators felt that the body and bier did not belong together, so they were separated. The bier was de-accessioned to the Smithsonian Institute in the 1950s.
The body, attached at the time to a wooden bier (99.3.6 [D]), was donated to the Museum by Theodore M. Davis in 1899. Davis reported having bought this ensemble from Mohammed Mohassib in Luxor. When it arrived in the Museum the curators felt that the body and bier did not belong together, so they were separated. The bier was de-accessioned to the Smithsonian Institute in the 1950s.
Artwork Details
- Title: Contracted body of a man which has been naturally mummified
- Period: Old Kingdom
- Date: ca. 2649–2100 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt; Possibly from Southern Upper Egypt
- Medium: Mummified human body, linen
- Dimensions: L. 114 × W. 48 cm (44 7/8 × 18 7/8 in.), Case (Plexi): L. 127.6 × W. 61.6 × H. 45.7 cm (50 1/4 in. × 24 1/4 in. × 18 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Theodore M. Davis, 1899
- Object Number: 99.3.5
- 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. 2051–2030 B.C.
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
ca. 2323–2255 B.C.
ca. 2124–1504 B.C.
ca. 2124–2000 B.C.
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.