Technology of Linen and Osirian Shrouds and their Conservation in the Light of the Collection of the Faculty of Arts Museum, Alexandria University
Dr. Ibrahim Hammed Mohamed Ibrahim, Lecturer of Antique Textile Conservation, Antiquities Restoration Department, Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels, and Antiquities Restoration, Abu Kir, Alexandria, and Dr. Heba Ragab Abu Bakr, Lecturer of Ancient Egyptian Language, Faculty of Archaeology, Luxor University will deliver the lecture
10 December 2019
12:00 PM
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Main Building, 3rd Floor Floating Room (F3)
The BA Antiquities Museum, affiliated with the Cultural Outreach Sector, organizes a joint lecture entitled "Technology of Linen and Osirian Shrouds and their Conservation" on Tuesday, 10 December 2019; 12:00 noon at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Main Building, 3rd Floor Floating Room (F3). Dr. Ibrahim Hammed Mohamed Ibrahim, Lecturer of Antique Textile Conservation, Antiquities Restoration Department, Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels, and Antiquities Restoration, Abu Kir, Alexandria, and Dr. Heba Ragab Abu Bakr, Lecturer of Ancient Egyptian Language, Faculty of Archaeology, Luxor University will deliver the lecture.
The lecture deals with linen shrouds, which are large rectangular linen textile covers that are sometimes placed on mummies, and sometimes around the body above the linen to cover the body tightly from head to foot. The shroud is held in place with specially woven laces. Sometimes the shroud is one or more pieces, and sometimes this textile is devoid of decoration or is decorated with a life-size painting of the god Osir, either simplified by drawing the outer border or fully filled in with red or black ink. It was therefore called the Osirian shrouds. Sometimes rare decorations are painted of other gods, such as Ra Hor Akhty or human bodies depicted in front of Osir representing the deceased in a devotional or sacrificial position, and sometimes the god appears standing in front of the offering table.
The texts accompanying the shroud represent spells or parts of the Book of the Dead using the red or black ink as well as the name of the deceased. It also sometimes represents the god by mentioning his titles, and texts of supplication from the deceased. It also includes the titles of the deceased himself. These texts aim to glorify the god by the deceased in the hope of gaining protection and blessing, and to seek intercession from the deity in the afterlife, as well as to assist the deceased during his journey to the underworld.
The study of the technical aspect used to create the linen shroud by ancient Egyptian weavers is very important, especially as it will be addressed not only from the point of view of historians who have always been interested in terms, definitions and descriptions, but also from the point of view of specialists in textile techniques.