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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. The area of the head and beak is covered with textile, black embalming agents, and thread. The body of the ibis itself is covered by five overlapping layers of broad bandages forming a herringbone pattern made by bands of textiles dyed with various colours and edged by a side band. The base of the mummy originally might have been covered by a swatch of cloth. CT scans show a 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 legs flexed as if it were seated. The evisceration is incomplete.

Suppl. 11022
Organic animal+plant fiber / Linen
11.6 cm x 14.6 cm x 40 cm
400 BCE – 0
Late Period – Ptolemaic Period
Asyut
Excavation Ernesto Schiaparelli, 1910–1912
Museum / Floor 1 / Room 11 RET / Cabinet 49 Mummies / Shelf 03
Museo Egizio