This annotation was created by Emilia Porubcin. The last update was by Christina J. Hodge.

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Our Dark Materials: Rediscovering an Egyptian Collection

GODS & PROTECTION

Gods and goddesses dominate popular imaginings of ancient Egypt with good reason. A pantheon of protectors manifested within everyday life and death in ancient Egypt, even for the modest people who made and used the artifacts of Our Dark Materials.

Osiris. Suchus. The four sons of Horus. They are all part of this collection. In the religious myths of ancient Egypt, these beings (and many more) made and destroyed and ruled worlds and underworlds. Their influence endured for thousands of years, into and beyond Egypt’s Greek and Roman periods, surviving these conquests and the competing religions they brought. Student curators discovered that even apparently humble objects offered protection, including manifesting the power—and persistence—of Egypt’s ancient deities.

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This coffin covering was intended to protect the remains of a woman—likely named Senchalanthos—for eternity. What remains after the 1906 earthquake flattened Stanford’s museum is a puzzle of missing pieces, never to be completed. Among hundreds of fragments, we find: bright flower-shaped patterns, depictions of four funerary gods, and writing scrawled onto the cartonnage. The Demotic inscription reads: “May her name be rejuvenated every day.” In recognizing her name in this exhibit, we hope to rejuvenate her spirit.
These fragments preserve the image of an unknown individual in their ultimate, mummified state. Per artistic convention, the thick linear pattern, seen on both the mask and larger surrounding fragments, symbolizes the bandage wrappings encompassing the deceased. It likely framed other designs, including of the sister goddesses Iris and Nephthys. Although now divorced from the body, this cartonnage revitalizes the deceased through the pictorial and symbolic representations of them in life, death, and afterlife.
These fragments preserve the image of an unknown individual in their ultimate, mummified state. Per artistic convention, the thick linear pattern, seen on both the mask and larger surrounding fragments, symbolizes the bandage wrappings encompassing the deceased. It likely framed other designs, including of the sister goddesses Iris and Nephthys. Although now divorced from the body, this cartonnage revitalizes the deceased through the pictorial and symbolic representations of them in life, death, and afterlife.
The versatility of metal allowed craftsmen creatively to form the ubiquitous Osiris in varying poses. Osiris, one of the most popular gods of the Egyptian pantheon, was perceived during his lifetime as the incarnation of the principal god Horus and became Osiris after death. Osiris was eventually equated with all deceased individuals and became a symbol of resurrection, making him one of the most common deities to be formed as a funerary object. Bronze figurines of Osiris take two basic forms: seated or standing. There are also three common arm positions: crossed; fists touching; and right arm over left. This placement may be associated with different geographical regions in Egypt. Smaller bronze Osiris figurines cast with a loop were worn as amulets, kept close to the body in life and death to bestow protection, healing, and luck. The most technical of the three forms, the amulet required precision and advanced casting techniques in order to create the rear suspension ring.
This figurine is the Egyptian crocodile god Suchus (a.k.a. Sobek) missing his snout. The picture of a complete version from the same site is shown nearby. As it is an object meant for worship, it may seem odd that the object is so roughly constructed. For instance, when looking at the top of the object, one can clearly see the join between the figurine’s two molded sides. This careless construction elucidates that this object was intended for commoners. Such figurines were mass-produced for worshipers of Suchus to put on their altars at home.
The versatility of metal allowed craftsmen creatively to form the ubiquitous Osiris in varying poses. Osiris, one of the most popular gods of the Egyptian pantheon, was perceived during his lifetime as the incarnation of the principal god Horus and became Osiris after death. Osiris was eventually equated with all deceased individuals and became a symbol of resurrection, making him one of the most common deities to be formed as a funerary object. Bronze figurines of Osiris take two basic forms: seated or standing. There are also three common arm positions: crossed; fists touching; and right arm over left. This placement may be associated with different geographical regions in Egypt. Smaller bronze Osiris figurines cast with a loop were worn as amulets, kept close to the body in life and death to bestow protection, healing, and luck. The most technical of the three forms, the amulet required precision and advanced casting techniques in order to create the rear suspension ring.
The versatility of metal allowed craftsmen creatively to form the ubiquitous Osiris in varying poses. Osiris, one of the most popular gods of the Egyptian pantheon, was perceived during his lifetime as the incarnation of the principal god Horus and became Osiris after death. Osiris was eventually equated with all deceased individuals and became a symbol of resurrection, making him one of the most common deities to be formed as a funerary object. Bronze figurines of Osiris take two basic forms: seated or standing. There are also three common arm positions: crossed; fists touching; and right arm over left. This placement may be associated with different geographical regions in Egypt. Smaller bronze Osiris figurines cast with a loop were worn as amulets, kept close to the body in life and death to bestow protection, healing, and luck. The most technical of the three forms, the amulet required precision and advanced casting techniques in order to create the rear suspension ring.
Perhaps taking inspiration from Mesopotamian technology, ancient Egyptians crafted this decorated item to keep valuables secure in life and death. It entered the collection with fragments of jewelry, so we assume this lock once kept jewelry protected from thieves or tomb robbers. Adornments were so commonplace in ancient Egypt, jewelry was a “luxury” that became almost a necessity. Thus, many people needed a place to keep it safe. This piece draws further parallels between contemporary and ancient experiences. Just as we have special places to put valuables, so too did ancient Egyptians.

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