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Mummy of a crocodile wrapped in bandages and reeds, with artificial eyes

An elaborate crocodile mummy in the shape of the reptile. A mat of reeds is wrapped around the animal, tied at the muzzle with a rope (probably made of halfa grass), while the tip of the muzzle is reinforced with linen. The head is covered by a brown piece of linen, coated with dark resinous material. The eyes are formed by concentric undyed and brown bandages. The body is covered by the mat as well, kept in place by a rope, and then by a plain linen shroud. At the base of the tail the reed matting is reinforced by some grass. The tail is spirally bound in rope and then wrapped in different bandages. The sides are covered with undyed linen that preserves the starting border and fringes.

The CT scans show the complete skeleton of a crocodile. The animal was eviscerated. The crocodile is smaller than the wrappings would suggest, occupying two thirds of the space. Two long sticks run through most of the artefact on either side of the skeleton.

Cat. 2351/02
Organic animal+plant fiber / Linen
23 cm x 181.5 cm
40 BCE – 210 CE
Ptolemaic Period – Roman Period
Unknown
Old Fund, 1824–1882
Museum / Floor 1 / Room 11 / Showcase 06
  • Archeologia invisibile, Torino 2019, p. 60, 64–65.
    Tipo=Catalogo d'esposizioni SottoTipo= Autore= Titolo=Archeologia invisibile Sottotiolo= In= Collana= Opera= Luogo=Torino Anno=2019 Menzionato=p. 60, 64-65 Illustrazione=
  • Borla, Matilde, “Mummie e animali del Museo Egizio di Torino: problemi di conservazione di manufatti polimaterici”, in XIII Congresso Nazionale IGIIC: Lo Stato dell'Arte 13 [...] Centro Conservazione e Restauro della Venaria Reale - Torino 22/24 ottobre 2015, 2015, pp. 153–160.
    Tipo=Atti di congressi SottoTipo= Autore=Borla, Matilde Titolo=Mummie e animali del Museo Egizio di Torino: problemi di conservazione di manufatti polimaterici Sottotiolo= In=XIII Congresso Nazionale IGIIC: Lo Stato dell'Arte 13 [...] Centro Conservazione e Restauro della Venaria Reale - Torino 22/24 ottobre 2015 Collana= Opera= Luogo= Anno=2015 Menzionato=pp. 153-160 Illustrazione=
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