25th Dynasty mummy-case
- Gallery: Room 63
- Culture: 25th Dynasty
- Date: 700BC (circa)
- Object type: mummy-case, cartonnage, human mummy
- Materials: linen; plaster; human tissue
- Museum number: EA6682
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is a beautifully painted mummy-case from the 25th Dynasty, believed to date to around 700 BCE. It belonged to a man named Padiamenet, whose well-preserved mummy lies within. His skull and body show intricate preparation techniques, including wooden poles that held his head to the body. The chest and abdomen feature internal padding, especially a large ball in the lower abdomen.
The cartonnage case is richly decorated with horizontal scenes painted in bright colors and varnished. Padiamenet is shown worshipping Osiris and Isis, with the Four Sons of Horus flanking the scene. Below, the falcon symbolizes Sokar, and the emblem of Abydos appears protected by goddesses Neith and Selkis, along with Khnum. The inscriptions in large blue hieroglyphs stand out against a white background, intentionally left unvarnished.
Padiamenet was a high-ranking temple official in Thebes. His mummy was originally wrapped and placed inside the cartonnage, which was later extended with additional cloth to fit properly. The piece reflects both the artistry and spiritual beliefs of ancient Egypt.
See it in person
25th Dynasty mummy-case is on display in Room 63 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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