Coptic AIPrototype

Mummy Labels

By Martin Krause

Ask about this article

mummy labels, tablets, mostly made of wood, on which are stated the names of the deceased, his parents, and his grandfather, and information about age, date of death, and the place to which he belonged (sometimes also his occupation). The majority are in Demotic and Greek (Coptic tablets are also known). The mummy labels were hung round the deceased's neck by a cord after mummification and the wrapping of the mummy in bandages, for identification and transport to the place of burial.

Bibliography

Krebs, F. "Mumienetiketten aus Ägypten." Zeitschrift für ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 32 (1894):36-51. Quaegebeur, J. "Mummy Labels: An Orientation." In Textes grecs, démotiques et bilingues, ed. E. Boswinkel and P. W. Pestman. Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava 19, pp. 232-59. Leiden, 1978. Cites older literature. MARTIN KRAUSE