Illustrative model — an approximation, not a scan of the original object.
c. 100 – 150 CE
Mummy of Artemidorus
References differ slightly on its date within the second century CE.
- Material
- Linen, plaster and gold, with an encaustic portrait on limewood; contains human remains
- Dimensions
- Length 171 cm
- Findspot
- The cemetery at Hawara, Fayum
- Discovery
- Found by Flinders Petrie in the Hawara excavations of 1888 and given to the British Museum by Henry Martyn Kennard that same year.
- Held by
- The British Museum, London
- Inventory number
- EA 21810
A red-painted plaster mummy case with gilded scenes of Egyptian gods: Anubis attending the deceased, and Osiris waking to new life. Over the face is a portrait of a young man in Greco-Roman style.
This object contains human remains; out of respect we show it only as an illustrative model.
Across the chest a short Greek inscription, misspelled, reads "Farewell, Artemidorus".
- The British Museum, London “Mummy of Artemidorus, EA 21810” britishmuseum.org
- Susan Walker, Morris Bierbrier (1997) “Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt” British Museum Press
Scans suggest Artemidorus died aged about 18 to 21, which matches his portrait.
Scholarly note: Age estimates from scans are approximate by nature.
- The British Museum, London “Mummy of Artemidorus, EA 21810” britishmuseum.org
Scans show unhealed skull injuries, which may have happened during embalming or may have caused his death.
Scholarly note: The cause of the injuries cannot be determined with certainty.
- The British Museum, London “Mummy of Artemidorus, EA 21810” britishmuseum.org