Imsety, Hapi, Qebehsenuef and Duamutef were the four sons of Horus. Isis, Nephthys, Serqet and Neith were the goddesses who guarded the viscera. See E 447-453.
The use of a cartonnage mask is one of the most characteristic features of ancient Egyptian burial customs. Such masks covered the head and the upper part of the chest of a mummified person. Generally, they consist of layers of linen and gypsum that could be molded to the shape of the deceased. Finally, each mask was painted in bright colors.
Because of their fragility, relatively few cartonnage masks of the Middle Kingdom have survived in as good a state of preservation as this one. The face is rendered in a formal, stylized way, giving it a somewhat stiff expression. Even so, some details are indicated: the bristles of the full beard, the mustache, and the eyebrows, all stippled in black over a blue ground. The man wears a voluminous wig with long, rounded ends, which are neatly rimmed with a decorative border. A broad collar composed of many rows of beads features falcon-headed terminals, which are held in position by strings emerging from under the wig on the mask's back. In addition, a simple necklace with a large pearl completes his adornment. But most striking is the richly ornamented diadem with a floral motif over the forehead. The model for this diadem was gold and silver, inlaid with semiprecious stones like carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise.
Although the original burial spot of the Walters' mask is not known, its general style and details undoubtedly indicate that it came from the necropolis at Asyut. At this important site, the capital of the 13th district of Upper Egypt, a French mission as well as the Egyptian nobleman Sayed Khashaba Pascha conducted intensive archaeological excavations during the early 20th century. Many rock-cut tombs belonging to the courtiers of the Asyut nomarchs (the rulers of the nome) were found untouched and still contained their original grave goods. This mask was probably discovered during the poorly documented Khashaba excavation, which left no records about related objects found in the tomb, including the coffin of the deceased with its inscriptions. Without records of his titles and name, the identity of the owner of this mask must remain a mystery.For the latest information about this object, mummy masks, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: 11th-early 12th DynastyInscriptions: Reign: Style:
Funerary masks of the Ptolemaic and Roman periods often had gilded faces that reflected the association of the deceased with the gods. This mask has been molded over a core, with layers of mud and linen. The decoration was applied in layers, with the gilding at the end. The eye inlays are made from glass, as well as the blue scarab on the top of the head and the ibis inside of a pectoral on the chest. The scarab has gilded wings which stretch down to the sides of the wig. Above the forehead is a frieze of uraeus serpents with sun-disks on their heads. At the right and left frontal ends of the wig are recumbent jackals. A golden collar with five rows of rosettes and geometric patterns adorns the mask, suspended from which two kneeling goddesses flank the pectoral with an ibis. The goddesses may be identified as Isis and Nephthys, each with a sun-disk on her head and a feather-fan in one hand.
Cartonnage masks were used to protect and idealize the facial features of the deceased. The golden face of this mask shows no signs of age, gender, or emotions. The eyebrows, nose, mouth, chin, and ears are very well modeled, but without color accents. The motif ensemble of the mask symbolizes protection (uraeus serpents, jackals), general renewal (scarab-beetle), and divine support to pass the court of death (Thoth-ibis, goddesses) and to be renewed in the afterlife amongst the deities (reflected in the golden color of the face).For the latest information about this object, mummy cases; masks, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: late Ptolemaic Dynasty (?)Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Painted wood. Two corresponding side pieces from lower portion of coffin lid with identicaql paintings facing each other. Scene: above: Horuphty / below: beetle flanked by signs
Painted wooden coffin of Djed-Hapi (earlier read as Sakhpimau). The coffin has an idealized head of the deceased wearing a long black wig and a false beard. The coffin is decorated with a wide collar with 9 horizontal bands of floral and beaded imagery with falcon-headed terminals. Below the collar is a scene of a mummy on a lion-headed bier with mourning goddesses (Isis and Nephthys) on either side. Below this is a funerary text of five columns invoking the god Anubis. The names of his parents are also given. his father was called Petosiris and his mother's name was Sermuthepet.