Ancient Egypt, Early Ptolemaic Period, ca. 300 BCE. A rare mummy linen textile fragment with hieratic script in black ink, which is a section of text from the Egyptian Book of the Dead (or the Book of Going Forth by Day). The script are spells and invocations was written for an Egyptian named Petosiris; note the partial cobra on the right side! In later dynastic and post-dynastic periods, lines from the Book of the Dead were written on the linens used for wrapping mummies. Rather than adorn a sarcophagus or cartonnage elements with this script, priests believed that laying the text directly on the mummy wrappings would create a more robust layer of protective incantation over the deceased and their journey to the afterlife. The textile is protected, placed on paper backing over particle board and under an acrylic panel, the panel is removable with screws in each corner. Size of textile: 12.3" L x 2.2" W (31.2 cm x 5.6 cm); frame: 13" L x 4.375" W (33 cm x 11.1 cm)

This piece was examined and the hieratic script interpretation is by archeologist and historian, Wilfred G. Lambert (1926- 2011), professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham England, and previously Associate Professor at John Hopkins University. Dr. Lambert was a world renowned specialist in the field of Assyriology and Near Eastern Archaeology and Fellow of the British Academy. The textile's provenance traces back to Sir Charles Augustus Murray (1806-1895), the British Consul General in Egypt, before it was acquired by Sir Thomas Phillips (1792-1872).

Provenance: private Las Vegas, Nevada, USA collection, acquired from Bruce P. Ferrini, Medieval & Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts, Akron, Ohio, USA, March 24, 1997; ex-Sir Thomas Phillips (1792-1872) library collection; ex-Charles Augustus Murray collection, British Consul General in Egypt 1846 - 1863

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#184871

Age expected discoloration to linen and some fading to ink. Fraying to peripheries and tear to right end and smaller perforations near cobra. Overall excellent. Professionally mounted and protected under an acrylic panel on particle board.