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Burial customs: coffins of the late Old Kingdom (about 2686-2181 BC) to early Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1850 BC)

In the Sixth Dynasty a standard coffin type developed. A long wooden box with one inscription line on each side and two eyes on the East (=left) side. The dead was normally placed in it lying on the left side, head to the North with face looking to the East.

Some of these coffins are inscribed on the inside with an offering formula. In the First Intermediate Period it became common to decorate coffins with religious text ('coffin texts'), friezes of objects and offering lists.

similar coffin fragments in Digital Egypt for Universities:
Rifeh, Sedment tomb 2111


Coffin fragment with religious text (from Beni Hassan)

 


 

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