The Museum of Discovery acquired the mummy case as a gift in 1973. The mummy coffin is free of previous restoration and in superb condition but was taken out of public viewing for repairs and cleaning in 2003 when the Museum of Discovery merged with the Children’s Museum.

The coffin was made in Apu (Panopolis), Egypt circa 600 B.C. While some facts remain a mystery, there is much we do know about the mummy case. The case is 6’l and made of cedar wood. It is covered in painted hieroglyphs and the base pedestal has repetitions of “Life and Serenity”. By analyzing the paintings and hieroglyphics on the coffin, it was determined that the deceased was a male, but his age and cause of death are unknown.

Maybe the biggest mystery that remains is the whereabouts of the actual content of the coffin. The deceased male that was once placed inside the mummy case is no longer inside the coffin. There are, however, pieces of cloth that remain inside the coffin.

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and that the dead would still need their bodies intact for the afterlife. After a person died, their body was wrapped in cloth and placed inside a mummy coffin. The coffins were often decorates in colorful, bright colors. Hieroglyphs and special symbols covered the coffin as a way to protect the deceased spirit and body on its dangerous and difficult journey to the afterlife. Often a representation of the deceased also adorned the coffin.

The coffin is part of the Museum’s general collection and can be seen during regular Museum hours.