Handbook of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Part 5

XXVII and XXVIII Dynasties 525-398 B.C.

XXIX Dynasty 398-379 B.C.

x.x.x Dynasty 378-341 B.C.

Ptolemaic Period. 332-30 B.C.

Roman Period 30 B.C.-364 A.D.

Byzantine (Coptic) Period 364-640 A.D.

Arab Conquest of Egypt 640 A.D.

[Lower Part of Coffin. Dynasty XXI]

Lower Part of Coffin. Dynasty XXI

The exterior of this wooden coffin is decorated with figures of G.o.ds and minor divinities in shrines, alternating with invocations to various divinities. The most interesting scene is that next the foot on the right side, showing the G.o.ddess Hathor in the form of a cow. Beside her is a suggestion of the Theban cliffs and the open door of her shrine, which was hewn in the mountain side. This very shrine was discovered on February 7, 1906, and in it intact was a life-size cult statue of Hathor as a cow.

Hathor was supposed to receive the setting sun and to welcome the dead on the brink of the next world. The decoration of the interior of the coffin is bolder and more highly colored than the exterior. On the floor may be noted the large standing figure of Osiris of Busiris. Various divinities are represented surrounding him. On the sides of the coffin are three registers containing each three mummiform figures with human or animal heads; at the top is the soul of the deceased, represented as a human-headed bird. This coffin doubtless comes from Thebes. The absence of the cover makes it impossible to determine the ownership. The coffin was perhaps originally decorated in advance for a woman's burial, and held in stock for any burial. In one place, however, a man's t.i.tles are given, although the name is not recorded, so that possibly, before the decoration of the coffin was completed, it was adapted to the use of a man.

[Statuette, Wood. Dynasty XII]

Statuette, Wood. Dynasty XII

Standing figure of a woman, carved in wood, with traces of painting; found at Deir; a fine example of carving in Dynasty XII. An inscription on the base may be read: "Funerary offerings, beef, fowl (?), things (?), good and pure for the honorable Kai." Doubtless a portrait statue. The pose, with one foot advanced and the arms held stiffly at the sides, is a familiar one in Egyptian art. Note costume details: the thick wig and the tight dress supported by two shoulder straps.

[G.o.ddess Neith, Bronze Dynasty XXVI]

G.o.ddess Neith, Bronze Dynasty XXVI

This bronze statuette represents the G.o.ddess Neith wearing the crown of Lower Egypt; probably of the Saite period. An excellent example of votive bronzes, of which there is a considerable number in the collection. These statuettes probably served as votive or propitiatory offerings; that is to say, they were offered at shrines in grat.i.tude for favors experienced or in the hope of winning favors to come.

[Funerary Papyrus]

Funerary Papyrus

Fragment of the funerary papyrus of the Priest of Amon, Jekhonsefonkh; part of a scroll buried with the deceased for his instruction in the afterworld; Dynasty XXI.

[Ushabti, Wood]

Ushabti, Wood

Ushabti, Dynasty XIX (?), part of the burial equipment of "The Lady of the House, the Chantress of Amon, Aay." Ushabtiu were placed in the tomb to answer for the deceased when called upon to labor in the afterworld. The inscription reads: "To illuminate the Osiris, the Lady of the House, Aay, beatified in peace. He says: O this ushabti, if one be drafted to do all the labors which are performed in the underworld-the Osiris, the Lady of the House, Aay, beatified, in peace-to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the banks, to carry the sand of the east to the west, behold, there will be smitten down ..." Here the text, which is part of Chapter VI of the Book of the Dead, breaks off because the available s.p.a.ce was filled. It omits final instructions to the ushabti to reply, should the deceased be drafted, "Behold, here am I!" and thereupon relieve the deceased Lady of the House of the onerous task of laboring in the fields.

[Cover of a Canopic Jar, Terracotta]

Cover of a Canopic Jar, Terracotta

Cover of a canopic jar used in the burial to contain the human viscera; if not earlier than the Empire period, to which it is attributed, it represents the genius Amset.

[Group of Egyptian Alabaster Vessels]

Group of Egyptian Alabaster Vessels

From left to right: spherical vase, Early Dynastic; kohl jar used to contain antimony or other preparations for the eyes, Dynasty XII or XVIII; the three vessels following are of the Empire period, Dynasty XVIII-XIX.

[Bronze Mirror]

Bronze Mirror

Bronze mirror, originally highly polished, probably of the Ptolemaic period. Note the lotus column serving as handle and the two sacred falcons at the side of the handle.

The sacred falcon below is a charm or amulet of the XII or XVIII Dynasty in polished gray stone.

[Amulet]

Amulet

[Sacred Eye and Scarab]

Sacred Eye and Scarab

Heart scarab, Dynasty XX or later. Inscription is a prayer from the Book of the Dead, adjuring the heart, over which the scarab was placed, not to bear false witness against the deceased at the time of judgment. The Horus eye is a beautiful piece of faience inlaid with stone and gla.s.s, probably of Dynasty XIX.

ANCIENT ART

Except for Egyptian material, the representation of ancient art in our collections is unfortunately limited to comparatively few original examples. These include, however, an interesting group of Cypriote pottery (duplicate material from the Cesnola Collection) which has considerable importance from the archaeological as well as from the artistic point of view. This collection of pottery from the island of Cyprus shows an almost unbroken succession of styles from the Early Bronze Age, about 3000 B. C., down to the Roman period, and thus gives us a complete picture of the art of pottery in an important center of ancient civilization for about three thousand years. Artistically, it is probably the most successful product of the Cypriote artist. His sense of form and decoration could here find full expression without disclosing the lack of high artistic inspiration, which is apparent in his sculptural creations.

Moreover, a certain fanciful originality which shows itself now in a fantastic shape, now in the addition of handles and bosses in unexpected places, gives to his vases a refreshing variety. The interest of this collection will be greatly increased when we are able to exhibit examples of the Greek painted pottery of the V and IV centuries B. C., which represents the culmination of ancient ceramic art. A small collection of Cypriote gla.s.s, dating from the I century B. C. to the V century A. D., attracts attention by its beautiful color, or iridescence, due to burial in the earth. Although we have as yet no original sculptures of the cla.s.sical period, except for a few fragments, the development of sculpture in Greece and Rome may be studied in our cast collection.

[Piriform Vase. Cypriote, Mycenaean Style. ca. 1500-1200 B.C.]

Piriform Vase. Cypriote, Mycenaean Style. ca. 1500-1200 B.C.

[Cypriote Pottery]

Cypriote Pottery