Model Sailing Boat Transporting a Mummy

About this artwork

Step aboard this exquisite wooden model of a sailing boat from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12 (ca. 1900–1885 B.C.), now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art Department. Discovered in 1930–31 in the tomb of Djehuty at Lisht South, this 80.6 cm-long funerary bark captures a sacred moment: a mummified body rests on a bier under a protective canopy, attended by two women embodying the goddesses Isis and Nephthys—sisters of Osiris, the god of the afterlife. Nearby, sailors stand poised to raise the now-lost sail, while four men crouch before the mast, evoking the crew of a real Nile vessel. Crafted from wood and vibrant paint by anonymous artisans skilled in funerary goods, the model meticulously replicates essential features of ancient Egyptian boats, blending practicality with profound symbolism. These detailed replicas, prominent in the 11th and 12th Dynasties, ensured the deceased could navigate essential afterlife journeys, such as the pilgrimage to Abydos, Osiris's cult center. More than a toy or decoration, this artifact reveals the Egyptians' deep beliefs in eternal renewal. Placed in tombs like Djehuty's, it promised safe passage to the gods, highlighting the era's masterful fusion of art, ritual, and cosmology. A poignant window into ancient hopes for immortality!