Sarcophagus in the form of a Serpent
sculptor
Unknown
Date9th century BCE - 4th century BCE
Place MadeEgypt, Middle East
MediumCast bronze
Dimensions2 x 6.8 x 3 cm (13/16 x 2 11/16 x 1 3/16 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberM11n24
eMuseum ID719655
Previous NumberTEMP tray on desk Rm11 b
EmbARK ObjectID13573
TMS Source ID2475
Last Updated8/14/24
Status
Not on viewWeb CommentaryThe coiled snake that rests atop this diminutive bronze box indicates that it is a sarcophagus for a serpent. Ancient Egyptians believed in the rebirth of the soul after death, and tombs were often filled with objects that would aid the deceased in their transition from the earthly to the spiritual realm. Snakes, which shed their skin, functioned as symbols of rebirth. This made them appropriate companions for one who wished to be resurrected in the afterlife.
BibliographyNotes
Molly Phelps, "Sarcophagus for a Serpent," Inside the Collection (blog), Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 19 April 2020, https://www.gardnermuseum.org/blog/sarcophagus-serpent
ProvenanceNotesPossibly purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner during her travels in Egypt, September 1874 - April 1875.
