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Crocodile mummy

A tightly wrapped crocodile mummy in the shape of the reptile. Two overlapping pieces of the same fabric, held in place by some resin, cover the upper and the lower side of the mummy. This textile was probably dyed orange/pinkish. The original colour is no longer distinguishable due to degradation. A small stripe has been used for wrapping the tail and the head.
In the outermost wrapping, the head is covered with one piece of cloth, beneath which are fabric fragments that have been modelled to indicate the snout, eyes, and frontal bone. They are secured by resins and a bandage that covers the animal’s neck. The tail is wrapped in a spiral bandage. Another bandage of the same cloth covers the ventral side of the crocodile. The upper side of the crocodile is darker than the lower.
The CT scans show that the package contains a small juvenile crocodile, probably a hatchling. The animal body was first wrapped in reeds (probably papyrus).

Cat. 2353/10
Organic animal+plant fiber / Linen
4.1 cm x 26.3 cm
Unknow date
Tebe (?)
Purchase Bernardino Drovetti, 1824
Museum / Floor 1 / Room 11 RET / Cabinet 50 Mummies / Shelf 02
Museo Egizio