Coffin of Nespanetjerenpere (Part II)

This mummy case 𓅱𓇋𓀾 belonged to a priest 𓊹𓍛 named 𓂋𓈖 Nespanetjerenpere and is on display at the Brooklyn Museum. Yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 we looked at the front, and today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the back!

On the back, the gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹 Horus 𓅃𓀭 and Thoth 𓅤𓀭 are depicted. On the left, the ibis 𓉔𓃀𓅤 headed god 𓊹 Thoth 𓅤𓀭, and the god 𓊹 of writing is shown. On the right is Horus 𓅃𓀭, who is the falcon 𓃀𓇋𓎡𓅄 headed god 𓊹 and the embodiment of divine kingship. He was considered to be the god 𓊹 of the pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏥 and the “Lord of the Sky 𓎟𓊪𓏏𓇯.”

Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭 are seen holding a Djed pillar 𓊽, which is the symbol of stability. The Djed pillar 𓊽 is thought to be the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The Djed pillar 𓊽, shown here is even wearing the Atef crown 𓋚, which is the crown that Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 wears. 

It is very symbolic that this image 𓅱𓏏𓅱 appears where the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of the mummy 𓅱𓇋𓀾 would be. It can be interpreted that Thoth 𓅤𓀭 and Horus 𓅃𓀭are supporting the spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 of the deceased person. 

When a person died 𓅓𓏏𓏱 and became “The Osiris,” The Djed Pillar 𓊽 was then thought to represent their spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦! The spine 𓇋𓄿𓏏𓄦 was thought to keep Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 upright and able to function as the primary god 𓊹 of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱. This is even referenced in the The Book of the Dead: “Raise yourself up Osiris. You have your backbone once more, weary-hearted One; you have bones.” 

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