The head of the mummy was placed on a disc made of cloth or papyrus, more rarely of wood or bronze. Funerary and even "magical" formulae inscribed on this hypocephalus were intended to protect the deceased in the Hereafter and to further his resurrection. In the centre is a four-headed bull representing Amun-Re, worshipped by two baboons. The rest of the illustrations show the solar bark and several composite beings. The texts are a version of chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead.
Present location KMKG - MRAH [07/003] BRUSSELS
Inventory number E.6319
Dating PTOLEMAIC PERIOD
Archaeological Site UNKNOWN
Category HYPOCEPHALUS
Material PAPYRUS; PLASTER
Technique DOVETAIL (JOINT); STUCCO; WRITTEN WITH A REED PEN/REED WITH SPLIT NIB
Diameter 18.5 cm
M.-P. Vanlathem, Oudegyptische lijkkisten en mummies - Cercueils et momies de l'Égypte ancienne, Bruxelles 1983, 44-45
F. Lefebvre et B. Van Rinsveld, L'Égypte. Des Pharaons aux Coptes, Bruxelles 1990, 244
The head of the mummy was placed on a disc made of cloth or papyrus, more rarely of wood or bronze. Funerary and even "magical" formulae inscribed on this hypocephalus were intended to protect the deceased in the Hereafter and to further his resurrection. In the centre is a four-headed bull representing Amun-Re, worshipped by two baboons. The rest of the illustrations show the solar bark and several composite beings. The texts are a version of chapter 162 of the Book of the Dead. Present loc...