Mummified Ibis

16.4.61.16

Information

Mummified Ibis wrapped in linen, arranged as a conical bundle, with paper label attached with black ink annotation: "No. 51 Ibis Mummy from the Ibis Tomb Sacchara". Radiographs reveal the skeleton of an ibis in poor condition with fracturing and displacement of the bones. Ibises were sacred birds of Thoth the god of scribes and writing. The long beak of the ibis reminded the Egyptians of a scribe’s pen dipped in ink. Worshippers donated bronze and faience figures or the mummified remains of an ibis as gifts to Thoth. This well wrapped mummy came from Saqqara where over four million ibises were buried. This is one of four ibis mummies collected by Rev. Dr. Hermann Philip and Mrs Dora Philip. X-rayed at National Museums Liverpool (Collections Care dept) 28 August 2024.