Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part I)

Only here on ancientegyptblog will you hear someone say “Look at how gorgeous this is 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓅱𓏭𓇑𓇑” about a coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 or other type of funerary object but that’s only because the Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere is such an incredible piece (as many objects from the Late Period are)!

I spent so long just trying to take in all of the beautiful 𓄤 images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 that are on this mummiform coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾! This coffin is made of cartonnage, which is a material that is made when linen or papyrus mixed with plaster! This is from the Third Intermediate Period, and dates from the 22nd – 25th Dynasties. 

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named Nespanetjerenpere. While to many the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 may seem like random pictures of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, it is actually a collection of carefully selected religious symbols meant to help guide Nespanetjerenpere on his journey to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and associate him with and ensure rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱. 

The ram headed pendant on his chest is meant to represent the sun 𓇳 god 𓊹 Ra’s 𓇳𓏺𓁛 journey across the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 – and through the netherworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛. The images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 can almost be thought of as the picture-book version of the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. 

While the images 𓅱𓏏𓅱𓏪 of the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 are so delicately drawn, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 going down the middle of the coffin 𓅱𓇋𓀾 seem to be unfinished and roughly done. The hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 show the very standard offering formula!

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives 

𓊩𓁹 – Osiris

𓏅 – Foremost 

𓋀𓏏𓏏𓈊 – West

The inscription reads: “An Offering the King Gives Osiris, Foremost of the West.”

Look forward to a Part 𓏻 about the back of this piece! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.