| The coffins of Bab el-Gasus in focus

The last blog gave an update on the Swiss Coffin Project and introduced the newly planned series "SCP Publications", which will present the ancient Egyptian burial equipment in Swiss museums. The first volume is dedicated to the coffins from the Cache-tomb of Bab el-Gasus (21st Dynasty, c. 1070-945 BC), which were donated to the Swiss Federal Council by the Egyptian Khedive in 1893 and are now in the museums of Appenzell, Bern, Geneva and Neuchâtel.

Photo shoots in Appenzell and Geneva

A detailed documentation in photographs and drawings is essential for the study of coffins. That is why as many photographs and drawings as possible will be included in the publication in order to provide a (nearly) complete picture of each object – this is particularly important for persons who are unable to view the coffins on site.

In January 2024, a photo session was held at the Appenzell Museum to complete the photographs of the coffin of an anonymous man taken in 2006. It turned out that new and fascinating details keep coming to light on closer inspection. We would like to thank Birgit Langenegger and Martina Obrecht, co-directors of the Appenzell Museum, and their team for the warm welcome in beautiful Appenzell and for their uncomplicated cooperation.

Detail of a scene on the outer wall of the tub in a drawing by artist and Egyptologist Daniela Rutica — Scene on the outer side wall of the coffin case in a drawing by the artist and Egyptologist Daniela Rutica.
© Swiss Coffin Project; drawing: Daniela Rutica.

The artist and Egyptologist Daniela Rutica has captured the many details of the coffin’s decoration in black and white drawings.

Another coffin ensemble from the Cache-tomb of Bab el-Gasus is kept at the Musée d'art et d'histoire Genève/Geneva (MAHG). Until now, only a few images of the ensemble of Shedkhons, which consists of an inner coffin (lid and case) and a mummy-board, were available. In April 2024, however, all parts of the ensemble were photographed in detail. I would like to thank Noémie Monbaron, curator for Ancient Egypt at the MAHG, and her team for organising the photo shoot, as well as Flora Bevilacqua, photographer at the MAHG, for the great pictures.

Drawing of the lid and tub of the Sched-Chons coffin — Drawing of the lid and case of the Shedkhons coffin with the anonymous mummy board, which was probably not part of the original coffin set. The graphic documentation recently completed by Daniela Rutica perfectly complements the photographs of the coffin ensemble. © Swiss Coffin Project; drawing: Daniela Rutica.

The complete photographic record allowed Daniela Rutica to make precise drawings of Shedkhons’s coffin ensemble. We are pleased to show a sample of them here for the first time!