Mummy of Kharushere

Cartonnage shell containing the mummy of Kharushere, who held the office of Doorkeeper of the House of Amun. His parents were the Doorkeeper of the House of Amun, Bes, and the Mistress of the House, Chantress of Amun, Tanetheretib. The outer layer of Kharushere’s mummy consists of a large sheet. It is held in place by straps, which were made of individual linen bandages that were folded lengthwise.

CT scans of Kharushere’s mummy, taken in 1997, show the body of an adult male with his arms extended on his sides. One can also see that an object is situated underneath the wrappings, in the center of the chest, slightly to the proper left side of the body. From its shape and position, this piece can be identified as a heart scarab.

The outer layer of Kharushere’s mummy consists of a large sheet. It is held in place by straps, which were made of individual linen bandages that were folded lengthwise. The mummified, wrapped body was originally inserted into a closely fitting cartonnage (86.1.34) through a seam at the back, which was later tied together; then the cartonnage and the mummy were enclosed within a set of coffins (86.1.31–.33).

The elaborate nested coffins of Kharushere was excavated by Gaston Maspero in 1885. Within Kharushere’s nest of coffins was this elaborately decorated cartonnage container. As he does on his innermost coffin, Kharushere here wears a striated tripartite wig topped by a fillet and a scarab beetle representing the god Khepri.

On his chest is a shrine-shaped pectoral with a figure of the goddess Maat inside, below which a composite ram-headed avian deity spreads its wings.Other elements covering the body include a winged falcon; shrines containing Horus, Sokar, and the four Sons of Horus; a falcon perched atop an Abydos fetish, symbol of Osiris; and, over the legs, goddesses and demons with crossing wings.

Third Intermediate Period, 22nd Dynasty, ca. 825-712 BC. Excavated by Gaston Maspero in 1885. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 86.1.35