Ibis-Form Shrew Mummy
Description
Object Label: These four animal mummies are in ibis-related shapes but different wrapping styles. The CT scans and X-rays shown here reveal that two of these mummies are indeed ibises, as expected, but that of the two others, one contains snakes and the other contains shrews. Scientific examination has revolutionized scholars’ understanding of the most basic data available in analyzing animal mummies. Caption: Ibis-Form Shrew Mummy, 664–332 B.C.E.. Animal remains (Crocidura flavescens, C. nana, C. olivieri, or C. religiosa), linen, 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 19 5/8 in. (12.1 x 8.9 x 49.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1987E. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer))
AI image analysis GPT-4o-2024-08-06
Machine-generated from the object's image on May 2026. Not curatorial; treat deities, names, and signs below as the model's best reading, not authority.
The image depicts a mummified falcon wrapped in linen.
The artifact is a mummified bird form, likely a falcon, wrapped in a fabric, typically linen. The wrapping is meticulously done, with a detailed and precise bandaged exterior. The head of the falcon is distinctively formed, and the linen appears to be in relatively good condition, suggesting it was preserved with care. This type of mummification was common in ancient Egypt to honor deities associated with animals.
Cross-references (2)
- BKM-Accession 37.1987E tier-2
- BKM-Object 118489 tier-2
About this record's data
- From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Brooklyn Museum — Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art.
- AI-inferred — the image-analysis panel (deities, names, signs) is machine-generated and may be wrong.
- Approximate location — most map points are plotted at the site centroid, not the exact findspot.
- Inferred links — cross-references marked with a match method other than explicit-source-field were matched by us, not stated by the source.