Coffin of Amunred

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.”

Amunred is the man whose body was mummified and originally placed in the coffin, which is now empty. The name Osiris Amunred can be understood as “the late Amunred.” The inscription associates the name of the deceased with that of the god Osiris, to indicate that Amunred has died and, like Osiris, has been reborn in the afterlife. Amunred is also associated with Osiris because he wears a false beard, which indicates that he has achieved immortality like Osiris.

tags: pattern, function, communication, identity, ritual, survival, ancient Egypt