START WITH ART: Ibis Coffin

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Title: Ibis Coffin

Date: 305-30 B.C.E. (Ptolemaic Period with later additions)

Medium: Wood, silver, gold leaf, gesso, rock crystal, pigment

Dimensions: 42.5 x 20.3 x 55.9 cm

Start with Art Questions:

• This ancient gilded coffin contains a simple ibis mummy. Why do you think the ancient Egyptian would create a coffin for a bird? (Hint: the ibis was associated with the god Thoth, who was the god of wisdom and knowledge.)

• This coffin is made from wood, silver, gold leaf, gesso, rock crystal....how heavy do you think this object is?