Ritual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater Mussel

Ritual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater Mussel

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This stone model represents a freshwater mussel (of the family unionoida). Similar objects were included in the foundation deposits of tombs and royal mortuary temples of Dynasty 18. This example is probably one of two that were uncovered by Howard Carter in 1921 when he was excavating in a cul-de-sac at the southern end of the Valley of the Kings. The entrance of the tomb of Thutmose III (KV 34) lies in a crevice above and periodic rains from the high desert plateau drain down the cliffs, through the crevice, and into the cul-de sac. It is possible that foudation deposits at entrance of KV 34 were dislodged during one of these rains and deposited in the cul-de-sac where they became buried in debris. The inscription, which includes the king's throne name, reads "The Good God Menkheperre, beloved of Osiris."

Egyptian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ritual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater MusselRitual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater MusselRitual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater MusselRitual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater MusselRitual Object Carved in the Shape of a Freshwater Mussel

The Met collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 30,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from about 300,000 BCE to the 4th century CE. A signifcant percentage of the collection is derived from the Museum's three decades of archaeological work in Egypt, initiated in 1906 in response to increasing interest in the culture of ancient Egypt.