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Ibis mummy

An ibis mummy wrapped to show the animal lying on its back with the beak resting on its ventral side and the legs drawn up to the body as if it were seated. It was wrapped with overlapping bandages creating a herringbone pattern with insets. This was made with eight overlapping polychrome stripes. The wrappings evoke the plumage of the bird. The head and beak were originally probably covered with a brown cloth, most of which is broken off. The base is well covered by a piece of linen that overlaps with the last edge bandage. It was stuck down with resin, which still remains. CT scans show the complete skeleton of an adult ibis, positioned on its back, with the head folded over the sternum, wings folded against the sides of the body, neck curved to S and limbs flexed and pushed to the body. The head and the beak are damaged, post-mortem and post wrapping.

Suppl. 11018
Organic animal+plant fiber / Linen
10.3 cm x 13.5 cm x 30 cm
40 BCE – 210 CE
Ptolemaic Period – Roman Period
Asyut
Excavation Ernesto Schiaparelli, 1910–1912
Museum / Floor 1 / Room 11 RET / Cabinet 49 Mummies / Shelf 04
Museo Egizio