Archaeological Museum of Bologna

This anthropoid type wooden sarcophagus, which reproduces the features of the human body, contained the mummy of Usai and was in turn enclosed in a bigger sarcophagus, with angular pillars and barrel cover. The face of the deceased is red brick tinted to indicate the male sex, item highlighted to contrast the lighter colors used for the three-band wig and the usekh breastplate, consisting of a row of overlapping beads. Under the chin is visible the hole in which was fixed the traditional false beard that identified the deceased to the god Osiris, lord of the afterlife.

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The internal sarcophagus, containing the mummy, reproduces the features of the deceased: the face – brick red to indicate the male gender – contrasts with the lighter colours of the wig and the usekh pectoral with numerous rows of beads; the hole for the false beard, which has been lost, is visible under the chin and identifies the deceased with the god Osiris, the lord of the afterlife. The remainder of the sarcophagus is monochromatic with the exception of the two columns of hieroglyphics painted red, which transmit the name of Usai along with that of his father Nekhet and his mother Heriubastet. Imentit, goddess of the West, was painted on the bottom of the anthropoid casket to welcome the deceased.

Provenance: West Thebes (?). Palagi Collection (Nizzoli)
Datation: 26th dynasty (664–525 BC)
Material: Painted wood
Dimensions: h cm 204
Inventory #: EG 1962