Wooden statuette of a Ba bird - E.07079

3D Model

Inv n.: E.07079. Egypt, Late Period (664 BC - 332 BC).

In Ancient Egypt, the “Ba” was one of the non-physical aspects of every person. He is usually depicted as a bird with a human head wearing a beard, a broad collar and a wig. After death, the Ba bird leaves the body and waits until the process of mummification has been done. He is often represented on coffins flying above the head of the mummy, being waiting to be reunited with it after the ritual ceremony. Thereby the deceased will be able to move freely again and live further in the afterlife for eternity. This kind of painted wood statuette accompanied the deceased in his tomb during the Late and Ptolemaic Periods. The sundisk on his head symbolises the regeneration.

Find this object in the museum’s online catalog Carmentis

Created with Agisoft Photoscan, Nikon D800, 60 mm, 124 photographs (by i.thys@kmkg-mrah.be)