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Cat mummy

Cat mummy of skittle type with a naturalistically modelled head. The ears are erect, modelled of linen and outlined in brown bandage that has largely worn away. The round eyes are appliquéd in a cruder linen, attached to a folded bandage that separates the ears from the rest of the face. A dark brown linen thread outlines the eyes, and a brown dot at the centre serves as a pupil. The details of the face are picked out in brown thread that forms the mouth and the twirl of the whiskers. The neck is reinforced with a series of bandages. The front of the body is covered with three columns of coffers in a meander pattern set within a large rectangular frame of bandages. The ends of the bandages that were used to create the pattern are gathered up and covered by an undyed bandage, which also reinforces the base. The sides are neatly covered by a folded bandage that extends along the back of the mummy. CT scans show the complete skeleton of a kitten (possibly Felis silvestris lybica) in very poor condition. The body position cannot be determined with certainty. The body was covered with some resin, then wrapped. It was eviscerated.

Cat. 2349/07
Organic animal+plant fiber / Linen
7.4 cm x 36 cm x 6.5 cm
Unknow date
Unknown
Purchase Bernardino Drovetti, 1824
Museum / Floor 1 / Room 11 RET / Cabinet 50 Mummies / Shelf 03
Museo Egizio