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Original fileAbout This Work
The image shows a rectangular wooden frame containing a white museum placard with black printed text. The title 'THE SARCOPHAGUS' appears in red at the top. The text describes the Sarcophagus of Seti I, noting its composition of semi-transparent limestone, its coverage in texts from the 'Book of the Gates,' and the depiction of the sky goddess Nut on the base. It also mentions the original greenish-blue copper sulphate inlay, the 1817 discovery by G.B. Belzoni, and its 1874 arrival at its museum location.
The text serves as a historical document detailing the Western reception, acquisition, and scholarly interpretation of ancient Egyptian funerary objects, specifically those related to the Book of Gates.
Inscriptions(English)
THE SARCOPHAGUS. The Sarcophagus of SETI I, King of Egypt in about 1370 B.C., is formed out of a single block of semi-transparent limestone. The Sarcophagus, as well as its cover (of which fragments are preserved in the Museum) are incised, inside and out, with scenes and texts from a religious book called the BOOK OF THE GATES. This was compiled with a view to instructing the Egyptian worshipper of Osiris and Ra in the nature of the regions through which his soul would pass after death and the character of the beings whom he would meet there; in short, it was intended as a Guide to the Underworld. On the bottom of the Sarcophagus is a figure of the goddess NUT, to whose keeping the body of the dead king was committed. The Sarcophagus was originally white, the figures and hieroglyphics being inlaid with a light greenish-blue composition made from sulphate of copper. The English climate has caused most of the composition to drop out and the white stone to turn yellow. The Sarcophagus was discovered by G. B. BELZONI in 1817, brought to England in 1821 and deposited here in 1874. In April, 1825, Sir John held a three-day reception in honour of its acquisition.
Connected Texts
Book of Gates
The placard explains the function of the Sarcophagus of Seti I as an illustrated guide to the underworld based on this specific funerary text.
Collections
Provenance & Source
Object
printing
paper
19th century
British
decorative
Linked Data