Rare Egyptian Late Dynastic Mummified Snake Bundle

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Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, ca. 712 to 332 BCE. A fascinating linen-wrapped bundle of mummified snakes, one of the most compelling artifact types from Egypt - and a reminder that "the past is a foreign country"! This is a votive mummy, a type that became popular especially after 664 BCE in the 26th Dynasty. Egyptians bred millions of animals, including snakes, specifically to be mummified and offered to the gods with a prayer, often at yearly festivals centered around temples devoted to animal cults. Snakes may have been dedicated to various serpent deities, like Meret-seger, Renenutet, Wadjyt, and Nehebkaw. Worshippers may also have been seeking protection from snake bites. Size: 4.2" W x 3.4" H (10.7 cm x 8.6 cm)

A. R. Williams, writing in National Geographic in 2009 ("Animals Everlasting"), described these festivals: "Like county fairs, these great gatherings enlivened religious centers up and down the Nile. Pilgrims arrived by the hundreds of thousands and set up camp. Music and dancing filled the processional route. Merchants sold food, drink, and souvenirs. Priests became salesmen, offering simply wrapped mummies as well as more elaborate ones for people who could spend more - or thought they should. With incense swirling all around, the faithful ended their journey by delivering their chosen mummy to the temple with a prayer."

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA

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#149827
Condition Report: See X-ray images to see inside the bundle! You can clearly see several spines representing the multiple serpents within. The linen has a rich patina with deposits on the surface. One end is partially loose but the bundle, while delicate, is not in danger of falling apart if carefully handled.