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A common inclusion in burials, either as models or paintings,
were the Four Sons Of Horus, the guardians
of the internal organs. The examples shown here are painted on
a coffin lid in the N.M.S. |
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This detail shows another common image from Egyptian coffin
art, in which the soul of the deceased in the form of his human
headed Ba bird offers praises to the mummified form
of the god Osiris. It was hoped that if the dead were identified
with Osiris he would provide them with protection in the afterlife.
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A wide range of images occur frequently in coffin art. Many of
these were intended to identify the deceased with various gods.
In these examples Isis holding the Ankh symbol is shown praising
the mummified body of the deceased represented as Osiris. |
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The jackal headed God, possibly Anubis, holds the hook and flail.
These are symbols of royal power. In addition he wears the combined
crown of upper and lower Egypt showing he is the king of the
two lands. |
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Horus himself is a surprisingly infrequent star in Egyptian
coffin art. This is probably because the Falcon is usually associated
with light, airy places, not tombs. The Falcon headed god Sokaris
is a more common feature, but it is thought that his association
with death came some time after the god was established.
This photograph shows Horus, and his 4 Sons. |
All objects photographed here are from
the collection of the National
Museums of Scotland.
Thanks to the N.M.S. Department of History and Applied Art for
information concerning the objects.
 Coffin
Baseboard Details Anthropoid
Coffins Gods
And Goddesses Birds
And Feathers
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