Ancient Egyptian serpent reliquary fragment from Naukratis

Copper alloy fragment from a serpent case, which would have orginally contained a mummified or desicated small snake. This piece is from the top of the box, and includes pieces of the top surface which still adhere to the modelled snake. The snake is into an approximate figure of eight, and near the tail end is a raised loop, the base of a loop near the head also appears to remain. The surface is corroded and red and brown in colour. There is a small hole through part of the top surface that mayhave been used to affix a steel spike for display in the twentieth century, or it might be ancient.

Ancient Egyptian serpent reliquary fragment from Naukratis

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1886.31.69.d
  • Material: copper alloy
  • Excavator: E.A. Gardner W.M.F. Petrie
  • Object name: serpent reliquary fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 66mm , Width: 25mm , Depth: 15mm
  • Published references: Petrie W M F Naukratis 1 1886
  • Site: Naukratis
  • Latitude: 30.901111
  • Longitude: 30.5925