The “Mummy Board of Henettawy, Probable Sister Wife of High Priest of Amun Smendes” is an evocative example of symbolic painting from ancient Egypt. Created between circa 990 and 970 BC, during the 3rd Intermediate Period, this artwork captures the spiritual and cultural significance attributed to funeral rites in that era. Rendered using wood, paint, and gesso, it is housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork features rich iconography typical of ancient Egyptian funerary art. Central to the design is a depiction of a deified figure, possibly Osiris, adorned in various traditional regalia, harmoniously composed in bright hues contrasting against a darker background. The deity is flanked by an array of symbols and hieroglyphics denoting eternal life, power, and protection, such as ankhs and was-scepters. Multiple other deities, portrayed in profile and identified by their distinct headgear, contribute to the narrative of passage and protection afforded by the divine to Henettawy. The mummy board manifests a balance between artistry and spiritual symbolism, encapsulating the interwoven nature of art and religion in ancient Egyptian culture.