Handle for rope for lowering coffin

Unknown

ca. 1070–945 B.C. · Pine wood · Egyptian Art

Discovered in the pit of MMA 60, this is one of three wooden rods with rounded ends, slightly larger at the ends than in the middle. Two of the sticks seem to have made a pair; this one is slightly shorter. These rods may have been used as handles on ropes by the ancient undertakers to lower the inner coffins into the outer coffins, or for lowering an entire set of coffins into place.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1070–945 B.C.

Medium

Pine wood

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1925