Procession of model boats

Egyptian, Middle Kingdom, late Dynasty 11-early Dynasty 12, 2010-1961 B.C.; Wood

*Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition

*Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

How to live a comfortable afterlife – Egyptian style.(Ancient Egyptian style, that is!)

Most of us know that Egyptian artifacts have survived because they were buried in tombs for thousands of years. We have a general understanding that these items were buried with the deceased to serve them in the afterlife where they would need the tools and personal effects both to serve them and keep them in the lavish lifestyle to which they had grown accustomed. But what is remarkable about a new exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is that, for the first time, we are privileged to see the contents of a tomb, in their entirety and together for the first time since they were  placed in the tomb during the Middle Kingdom (2040 – 1649 BC).

Tomb 10A held the contents of an Egyptian governor and priest named Djehutynakht and his wife Lady Djehutynakht. The tomb was discovered in Deir el-

Bersha, a necropolis in central Egypt, by the joint Harvard University/Museum of Fine Arts Boston Expedition of 1915. Included in the discovery is the famous “Bersha coffin”, considered a masterpiece of Egyptian painting, as well as hundreds of items considered necessary for a comfortable afterlife. The conservation and reconstruction of this treasure has taken almost 100 years to complete, and it represents the largest Middle Kingdom burial assemblage ever discovered. Perhaps most amazing is what this teaches us about the life and the grand lifestyle of an official living in Egypt about 4,000 years ago.

Some of the items on view include painted coffins, cult objects, walking sticks, vessels, furniture, and jewelry. Other significant objects include almost 60 wooden boats that are said to have special symbolic significance. Just to give you an idea of the tremendous effort that went into this exhibition, it took five conservators about 10,000 hours to reassemble these boats and their parts!

Statue of Lady Sennuwy Egyptian, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reign of Senwosret I, 1971-1926 B.C.; Granodiorite *Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Harvard University -Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition *Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston