Coffin of Amunred (work of art)

Key Ideas

• Amunred’s coffin is in the form of a human body. It is made of wood and painted with representations of deities, or supernatural beings, who were considered divine or sacred. The hieroglyphic texts painted on the coffin were meant to protect Amunred’s remains. 
• Painted across the middle of the coffin is Nut, the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky and the mother of Osiris. She protected the dead on their journey into the afterlife.
• An idealized likeness, or a perfect representation, of Amunred’s face is painted on his coffin. He has reddish-brown skin and a beard that curls up at the end, and he is wearing a wig. The wig is painted with blue and white stripes stretching across his forehead and falling onto his shoulders. In ancient Egypt, many gods were depicted with beards. Pharaohs (divine rulers) would wear fake beards to signify their status as a living god. Amunred’s beard connects him with immortality.

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This coffin is decorated with hieroglyphic texts and representations of various deities who protect the remains of the deceased. The central inscription reads: “An offering that the king gives to Osiris, Foremost of the West, Great God, Lord of Abydos, so that he may give a fine burial and offerings to Osiris Amunred, son of Horshefemhat, born to the lady of the house, Isis-Nofret.”

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