The Egypt Centre houses a small collection of animal and human remains, the vast majority of which remain in storage. While it is often possible to determine the animal which was mummified by the Egyptians, a number of packages are quite ambiguous. One such example from the Egypt Centre is labelled EC308 which was originally entered on the museum catalogue as "mummified animal, possibly human". The object takes the form of an oval package, tightly wrapped in linen bandages and measuring 20x20x17cm. It was probably purchased by Wellcome from the Rustafjaell collection. Upon x-raying the object, courtesy of the veterinary practice at Pet at Home, Swansea Retail Parc Tawe, it was revealed that the package actually contained a coiled mummified snake. The snake was so well preserved that it was still possible to see its head. It was also notable that the snake had been severed half way along the length of its body. This may have been the fatal blow to the snake before it was mummified, although x-rays do not enable us to come to any conclusions on this matter. Measuring the length of the snake revealed that it was almost 80cm, this being quite long for mummified specimens. Snakes were particularly mummified in Thebes from the Late Period through to the Roman Period of Egypt when they were seen as being one of the many sacred animals of the god Amun. Snakes were also associated with rebirth and regeneration because of their ability to shed their skin and were also associated with the god Atum of Heliopolis, the primordial creator god of Egypt. Some were simply wrapped in bandages, others placed in elaborate bronze boxes, and subsequently offered to Atum in the temples or associated cemeteries. One particularly cemetery, that of Amara West, contained a 'shrine' with a series of snake burials associated with it. While they were not mummified, the containers contained the skeletons of many snakes, believed to be pythons. It is likely that these snakes represent some kind of unknown Nubian snake cult. Further Reading: Andrews, C.l (1998) Egyptian Mummies. BM Press: London. Pgs. 82-7. Ikram, S. (2004) Beloved Beasts: Animal Mummies from Ancient Egypt. SCA Press: Cairo. Ikram, S. ed. (2005) Divine Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt. AUC Press: Cairo. Ikram, S. & Dodson, A. (1998) The Mummy in Ancient Egypt. Thames and Hudson: London. Pgs. 131-6. Shinnie, P. L. (1951) 'Preliminary Report on the Excavations at 'Am?rah West', 1948-49 and 1949-50'. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 37, Pgs. 5-11. Taylor, J. H. (2001) Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt. BM Press: London. Pgs. 244-63.
