Kanopengefäß des Ramose (ohne Deckel)

Description

In the course of the New Kingdom some of the mortuary complexes of the Old-Kingdom kings at Abusir show rebuildings and modifications like e. g. secondary burials etc. The canopic jar of Ramose in Berlin is said to originate from such a context. The object represents one part of a convolute of finds consisting of 4 canopic jars and 5 lids, which were purchased by H. Brugsch from the art dealers Ali and Farag. Later, in 1892, the art dealer and patron R. Mosse, who acquired the canopic jar, donated the piece to the Berlin Museum. For the development of the canopic jars during the New Kingdom the piriform shape of the vessel as well as the raw material calcite alabaster are characteristic. None of the lids from the convolute fit to this object. Following the inscription which names Duamutef, one of the son’s of Horus, it can be assumed that the lid had the shape of a human or canid-head. The inscription itself is arranged in 3 vertical columns and represents the characteristic spell of the 18th–19th Dynasty. It has to be noted however one modification: instead of the God Hapi, Duamutef and Nephthys are named. Even though that the piece should be dated stylistically and epigraphically to the New Kingdom, the location and details of the very tomb of Ramose at Abusir haven’t been identified yet.(Robert Kuhn)