Ancient Egyptian shroud fragment from Hawara dated AD 100 – 200

Portion of plain linen shroud with hole for painted portrait, removed in antiquity. The edges of the shroud appear to have been cut by the excavator to remove the front / top of the shroud so the full expanse is not preserved. Shroud formed of two layers of linen (the same large cloth folded over? now cannot tell as shroud has been trimmed) stuck together with resin. The underside has remains of webbing straps attached to shroud, originally used to attach shroud to mummy.

Two (three?) Demotic and two Greek inscriptions on the shroud – see other notes.

To be published by TH and M Cannata, Enchoria forthcoming

Ancient Egyptian shroud fragment from Hawara dated AD 100 – 200

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1977.345.1
  • Material: linen resin
  • Period: Roman Period
  • Dated: AD 100 - 200
  • Associated person: W.M.F. Petrie
  • Object name: shroud fragment
  • Dimensions: Length (approx): 1694mm , Width (max): 540mm , Depth (approx): 70mm
  • Published references: Petrie Roman Portraits and Memphis IV 15 22 translation of Demotic inscns pl XXIV Greek inscription not noted in Petrie or other publications Second inscription discussed by R Ritner in L Corcoran Portrait Mummies from Roman Egypt 41 - 2
  • Site: Hawara
  • Latitude: 29.266667
  • Longitude: 30.9