Fragment of a coffin showing a 'tree goddess'. From the New Kingdom trees are often personified as Hathor or Nut giving refreshment to the dead.

Fragment of cartonnage (linen stiffened with gesso), decorated with a brightly coloured painting of the Tree Goddess (possibly Hathor or Nut) and sycamore tree. She is offering a gift of food and drink for the deceased. The Ba bird of the deceased can leave the tomb and sit in the branches of the tree which would have been growing near the entrance to the tomb. Compare this with the scene painted on the coffin of the musician on display. 22nd Dynasty. For information on sycamore trees and the tree goddess see Orly Goldwasser 2002 'Prophets, Lovers and Giraffes: Wor(l)d Classification In Ancient Egypt', pages 39-55. See also, Billing, N. 2004. 'Writing an Image-The Formulation of the Tree Goddess Motif in the Book of the Dead, Ch. 59.' Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur. 32, 35-50. The object has a thick black substance on the reverse. 14.5cm high.

Collection

Egypt Centre, University of Swansea

Inventory Number

3543396

Title

Fragment of a coffin showing a 'tree goddess'. From the New Kingdom trees are often personified as Hathor or Nut giving refreshment to the dead.

Object Type

Image

Measurements

-