Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Snake Staff
Middle Kingdom
Not on view
This object is not part of The Met collection. It was in the Museum for a special exhibition and has been returned to the lender.
The copper twisted cobra staff and the female figurine with leonine ears in the case to the right were found at the bottom of a tomb shaft with other magical objects, including an apotropaic rod segment and papyri inscribed with ritual birthing chants as well as other texts. It has been suggested the tomb belonged to a nurse or magician, but these objects simply demonstrate the importance of rebirth in the concept of the afterlife.
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