Image credit: Bram Souffreau / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · 2009-01-13 ↗
Mummy and Coffin of Katebet (EA6665)
Bloomsbury / British Museum · Euston → Bloomsbury → Soho · Ancient Egypt / museum object
Story
Visitors to the British Museum have the opportunity to contemplate the mummy of Katebet, a 'Chantress of Amun' who lived in Ancient Egypt between approximately 1330 and 1250 BC, during the era of the New Kingdom's 19th and 20th Dynasties. Her life unfolded during a period of immense splendour for the cult of Amun, whose primary centre was the magnificent Temple of Karnak in Thebes. Chantresses, often elite women, played a significant role in religious rituals, singing and playing instruments in honour of the deity, which bestowed upon them a special status and connection to divine power. The coffin housing Katebet is a fascinating object of study, as its characteristics reveal clear evidence of adaptation. Originally, it appears to have been conceived and decorated for a man, a detail discernible in the inscriptions and iconography that still bear traces of a previous male occupant. Such reuse, or significant modification, was not uncommon in ancient Egypt, especially when dealing with costly funerary objects. It might have been a pragmatic solution in the face of a sudden need for a sarcophagus, or a way to optimise resources, adapting an existing coffin to Katebet's requirements. Artisans would have repainted or recarved certain sections, altering names and titles to fit their new occupant, though not always in a completely imperceptible manner. This process of adaptation offers a window into the funerary economy and social practices of the era, suggesting that even in matters as sacred as preparation for the afterlife, a certain pragmatism prevailed. Today, by examining the coffin closely, one can discern these subtle inconsistencies: a repainted stroke here, a modified hieroglyph there, betraying the history of its transformation. Katebet's mummy, along with her modified coffin, is not merely an artefact from a distant civilisation, but a tangible testament to the life, status, and ingenious solutions adopted in Ancient Egypt to ensure the eternal journey of their deceased, a narrative etched into the very wood and pigment.
What to look for
Look for the coffin and mummy of Katebet, Chantress of Amun. Observe the inscriptions and the shape of the coffin, noting the details that reveal it was modified for her after being originally designed for a man.
Secret detail
Examine the coffin closely and you may notice subtle inconsistencies or overpainting in the decorations and hieroglyphs, which betray its adaptation, as it was originally conceived and decorated for a male occupant.
Where exactly
Inside the British Museum, search for object number EA6665. The museum's database currently places it in Room 62, Case 21, though museum trails may still show it in Room 63. Head to the British Museum’s main Great Russell Street entrance to access.
Orientation
Once inside the museum, use the object number search (EA6665) on directories or ask staff if the room location has changed.
Why it matters
This object is a tangible testament to ancient Egyptian funerary practices and how resources were adapted to needs, even in such a sacred realm. It reveals the importance of the Chantress of Amun and offers a unique insight into life and death in a millennia-old civilisation.
Access & opening
Object display can change. Check current British Museum object record before route.
General museum admission free; booking may be recommended at busy times
We never show live status. Check opening hours before you go.
Accessibility
Use British Museum live access/entrance information.