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Egyptian Artifacts

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit

This is the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named π“‚‹π“ˆ– Harkhebit who lived during Dynasty 26 (c. 595-526 B.C.E.).

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
The Sarcophagus of Harkhebit

Harkhebit was the β€œRoyal Seal Bearer, Sole Companion, Chief Priest of the Shrines of Upper and Lower Egypt, and Overseer of the Cabinet.” The sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ was found in his tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, which was a shaft tomb near Djoser’s 𓂦 pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 complex at Saqqara (ancient Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š–). 

This sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is striking not just from an artistic point of view, but its massive size is also breathtaking! Other large and plump sarcophagi π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­π“¦ have been found in the Memphis π“ π“ˆ–π“„€π“†‘π“‚‹π“‰΄π“Š– area that are similar in style to this one! 

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
Me taking a selfie with Anubis and other deities!
Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
A close-up of the sunken relief of the goddess Isis

Let’s take a closer look! The sunken relief hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ are inscriptions π“Ÿπ“›π“₯ from The Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. Many different deities π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ such as Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the Four Sons of Horus (Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑, Imseti π“‡‹π“…“π“Šƒπ“Ώ, Hapi π“Ž›π“‘π“Šͺπ“‡Œ and Qebehsenuef π“π“Œ’π“Œ’π“Œ’π“†‘) all appear. 

Here is a picture of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– as it appears on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­! This is one of the variants of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ–, as it is missing the “π“…±” hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ!

Anubis' name in hieroglyphs on the Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
Anubis’ name in hieroglyphs

This sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ is considered to be mummiform, meaning it looks like a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! The β€œmummy” is wearing a wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸 and a false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ. I also love the large broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ that is on the sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­! If you look closely, you can see two 𓏻 falcons π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„π“ͺ on either end of it! Between the wig 𓄿𓂋𓏏𓁸, false beard π“π“ƒ€π“Šƒπ“…±π“π“Έ, and broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹, Harkhebit is dressed for the best in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! 

Sarcophagus of Harkhebit
A closeup image of the face of the sarcophagus showing details such as the broad collar, wig, and false beard.

The Sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ of Harkhebit is definitely one of the better examples of Late Period ancient Egyptian stonework!