Ramesses III

Contributed by The Fitzwilliam Museum

Now displayed vertically, this huge piece of carved granite is the sarcophagus lid of Ramesses III. This effigy of the king shows him in the form of an Egyptian god Sokar-Osiris who protected the gateway to the afterlife. The Egyptians believed the deceased king to be the embodiment of the god Osiris. Isis, who was the sister and wife of Osiris, and her sister, Nephthys flank the god king. They are identifiable by their crowns which spell their names. Nephthys stands on the hieroglyph for gold, a mineral used in the embalming process. Part of the sarcophagus lid is missing, suggesting it may have been damaged as grave robbers tried to lever it off.

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