Europeana Collections

Greek words on a mummy label. Wooden label in the shape of a tabula ansata. Seven lines written in ink on the smooth surface of the recto. Translation: "Hermiysis, [son] of Kollouthos, farewell! Kollouthos to Kallistos: When the mummy of my child reaches you, keep guard until I arrive," ... In Graeco-Roman Egypt...People who had died away from home were normally shipped back for burial in their local cemeteries. In order to facilitate the transport, the senders attached small labels which ensured proper identification...(Mueller, In 'Journal Of Egyptian archaeology' 1973, p.175). Part of the MacGregor collection purchased by Wellcome in 1924. See article by Gee and Gill in Journal of Hellenic Studies 1996, 261.