A Case Study

UID/HIS/04666/2019The traditional pharaonic burial customs declined after the third century AD. During the Roman Period, however, the practice of mummification continued in Egypt. The rich decoration of many of the mummies reveals the importance of its external appearance. The iconographical elements have their roots in the traditional Egyptian ideas of the Afterlife and were adopted by Roman populations, even if with changes and the addition of new influences. Roman mummies often had boot like coverings of cartonnage encasing their wrapped feet, decorated with varied motifs. An example of that can be found at the National Archaeological Museum of Venice, Italy. The outside of this artefact is decorated with the motif of bound prisoners, which has been used as a royal motif since the Predynastic Period and symbolized the victory of the Pharaoh over the enemies of Egypt. Through this study of case it is intended to contextualize and comprehend the religious appearance and use of this motif in non-royal context by the Roman Egypt population.publishersversionpublishe