The gilded mask of this mummy shows the deceased with a Roman hairstyle and jewelry, but the outer shroud carries scenes of Egyptian gods and hieroglyphs. The name of the woman is written in Greek at the top of the mask: ”Isaious (or Isarous) daughter of Demetrios” (Ἰσαι̣οῦς Δημη[τρίου]). These multicultural expectations of the afterlife are typical of Greco-Roman Egypt.

Egyptian, from Lahun, Mummy mask for a woman, circa 50 C.E., gilded and painted cartonnage, © 2020 Manchester Museum, University of Manchester / Julia Thorne, Tetisheri

Egyptian, from Lahun, likely Ptolemaic, Gilded cartonnage mummy mask of a man, circa 100 B.C.E., gilded and painted cartonnage, © 2020 Manchester Museum, University of Manchester / Julia Thorne, Tetisheri

Egyptian, Marble bust of the goddess Isis, circa 100 C.E., marble, © 2020 Manchester Museum, University of Manchester / Julia Thorne, Tetisheri

Egyptian,Cartonnage mummy mask with gilding applied to the face, circa 100 C.E., gilded and painted cartonnage, © 2020 Manchester Museum, University of Manchester / Julia Thorne, Tetisheri

Egyptian, Cartonnage mummy mask with gilding applied to the face (detail), circa 100 C.E., gilded and painted cartonnage, © 2020 Manchester Museum, University of Manchester / Julia Thorne, Tetisheri

Egyptian, Terracotta figurine of Bes in Macedonian-style armor, 100 B.C.E., terracotta, Robinow collection, © 2020 Manchester Museum, University of Manchester / Julia Thorne, Tetisheri

This is one of a series of mold-made masks, built up from layers of linen and plaster, typical of the Fayum region during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The distinctive blue color of the head covering is in emulation of the lapis lazuli that was believed to be the hair of Egyptian deities, thus associating the deceased with the divine.

This mummy of a man has a portrait showing a mature, bearded individual. The style of the portrait indicates a date during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, 117–138 C.E. The outer wrappings carry a depiction of an elaborate collar and traditional Egyptian funerary scenes.

This mummy of a man has a portrait showing a mature, bearded individual. The style of the portrait indicates a date during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, 117–138 C.E. The outer wrappings carry a depiction of an elaborate collar and traditional Egyptian funerary scenes.

The gilded mask of this mummy shows the deceased with a Roman hairstyle and jewelry, but the outer shroud carries scenes of Egyptian gods and hieroglyphs. The name of the woman is written in Greek at the top of the mask: ”Isaious (or Isarous) daughter of Demetrios” (Ἰσαι̣οῦς Δημη[τρίου]). These multicultural expectations of the afterlife are typical of Greco-Roman Egypt.

This mummy is one of only about 100 from this period that survive with the portrait intact. The portrait depicts a young man wearing a crown of laurel leaves—a sign of justification after death. CT scans show the man’s well-preserved teeth, which confirm that he was a young adult when he died in the first century C.E.

This mummy is one of only about 100 from this period that survive with the portrait intact. The portrait depicts a young man wearing a crown of laurel leaves—a sign of justification after death. CT scans show the man’s well-preserved teeth, which confirm that he was a young adult when he died in the first century C.E.

Many children did not live into adulthood. This young girl holds a floral garland, and her right hand is raised, palm outward, in a gesture of greeting or prayer. Her figure is framed by scenes of Egyptian gods, below a Pharaonic cavetto cornice and as if emerging from a shrine—suggesting the divine nature of the deceased.

This man wears a white tunic with dark red stripes, called “clavi,” and a studded sword belt, or “balteus.” These indicate military dress and suggest that the man was a soldier. His hairstyle and beard copy the third portrait type of the Emperor Commodus, which dates this portrait to between 185 and 195 C.E.

This woman wears a dark red tunic, gold hoop earrings with pearls, and a necklace of colored stones separated by round gold beads. Her hair is coiled in a large bun atop her head, with centrally parted waves around her face. This style dates the portrait to the early Antonine period, between 138 and 160 C.E.

This woman wears a purple tunic bordered by a black band embroidered in gold. A red or light purple garment is wrapped around her shoulders. Her hair is coiled in a tall bun on top of her head and parted in the middle of her forehead. This hairstyle dates the portrait to the early Antonine period, between 138 and 160 C.E.