The cartonnage was a painted whole-body decoration placed over the mummy. It was made from a mixture of linen, glue, and plaster. The decoration on Mehit’s cartonnage is similar to that on her coffin.
Head
Like Mehits’ coffin, the cartonnage features a helmet-like mask that represents Mehit. The mask is gilded with a three-part blue wig.
Pectoral (torso)
The pectoral depicts a broad beaded collar with the sky god Horus, son of the underworld god Osiris, at each end.
Below the collar, a kneeling figure of the goddess Isis, wife-sister of Osiris, replaces the more usual representation of the sky goddess Nut. (Isis was gaining in popularity as a protective goddess at the time of Mehit’s death). Isis holds ostrich feathers representing Maat, goddess of truth, order, and balance. Below these are two serpents, seen here with the human characteristics of legs.
Underneath is a line of funerary gods, two of whom hold staffs. The band below shows Mehit lying down while Anubis, god of mummification, performs part of the embalming process. Canopic jars containing Mehit’s organs stand under the table. Two funerary gods with staffs stand on each side of this scene.
Apron (lower area)
A mummified Osiris lies on a table. On his left is his mother, the winged sky goddess Nut, symbolised by the water vessel on her head. On his right is his wife-sister Isis, depicted incorrectly with a similar water vessel on her head. The two goddesses hold ostrich feathers.
Underneath, two bands shows funerary gods. The gods face djed columns, which represent the backbone of the underworld god Osiris.
The bottom part of the apron repeats the beaded decoration of the collar.
Click on the thumbnails below to find out more about Mehit:
