An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Coffin of Nesykhonsuc. 976–889 BCE
Egyptian coffins told stories and illustrated spells to help the deceased transition safely to the afterlife. Inside Nesykhonsu's coffin there are two jackals, one facing right and the other left, near the top. Here, the jackal represents the powerful deity Anubis, the god of the afterlife and embalming.
Two of Nesykhonsu's titles, "Lady of the House" and "Singer of the Choir of Mut the Great," are written on the outside of the coffin.
gessoed and painted sycamore fig
Overall: 70 cm (27 9/16 in.)
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
In the hushed stillness of ancient tombs, stories were etched into wood and painted onto surfaces, whispering secrets of the afterlife to those who dared to listen. The Egyptian coffins, intricate and profound, served not only as final resting places but as portals to another realm. Each coffin, like a storyteller's canvas, revealed spells that guided the departed through the daunting threshold of death.
Take, for instance, the coffin of Nesykhonsu. It is a vessel adorned with images that breathe life into the silence of eternity. At the top, two jackals stand solemnly, one turning to the right, the other to the left, guardians of the soul on its journey. These jackals, steeped in meaning, embody the powerful deity Anubis, the revered god of embalming and the afterlife. With their watchful eyes and poised figures, they symbolize protection and guidance, ensuring that the deceased moves safely into the embrace of the next world.
Here, in the sanctuary of silence, every brushstroke reverberates with a promise— a promise that death is not an end but rather a transformation, a continuing story waiting to unfold in the vast expanse of the afterlife. As the light dances softly over Nesykhonsu's coffin, it connects the living with the departed, inviting us to ponder the journey that lies beyond the veil. In this sacred space, the fusion of artistry and spirituality creates a profound tapestry of human experience, echoing through time and reminding us of the eternal voyage we all share.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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