Niagara Falls Museum Coffin NFM C7

Provenance: Unknown, almost certainly Thebes
Date: Late Dynasty XXV-XXVI, circa 770-525 bce.
Material: wood, gesso, paint
Dimensions: 65" long x 20"

This is the inner coffin of Iaw-tays-heret, daughter of the Lady of the House, Tadiast, and of the wab priest, Padikhnumdjuty. Iaw-tays-heret was a Follower of the Divine Adoratrice. It is not possible at this time to suggest which Divine Adoratrice was in power when Iaw-tays-heret was alive.

Pictured here is Julia Barnett, the grand daughter of Colonel Sydney Barnett. Photo taken 1967.

This coffin is the gem of the collection, in very fine condition. The face is undamaged, though possibly touched up slightly, and the wig sports a beautifully painted vulture headdress. The wig itself is greenish-blue with black lines in tile formation.

The lid of the coffin was completely decorated, chiefly in red and white, in intricate detail, with numerous carefully written inscriptions in hieroglyphs.

Beneath the image of Nut with wings outstretched just below the floral collar, there is a horizontal band with mirror image scenes of Iaw-tays-heret, her heart having been weighed against the feather of Truth, being led to Osiris. The deceased is dressed in an ankle-length robe with pronounced fringe. The Devourer waits patiently by the scales for the meal that never comes.

Under the foot of the coffin is an attractive black and white image of the Sacred Apis Bull carrying the coffin of the deceased, typical of XXVIth Dynasty coffins.

Lines of text adorn both the lid, and the trough, inside and out.

The hieroglyphs are clearly written in alternating bands of yellow and white.

They give the name, family names, and titles of the deceased, and repeat the prayers for the dead.