Linen
About This Item
Ancient Egyptians wove linen as early as 5000 BCE. This lightweight fabric was suitable to the warm climate of the area, and also used for burials. Loom weights kept the material taut during the weaving process to achieve a tight, durable weave. This linen, dating back almost 4000 years, was among material left in a passage to a burial chamber of a looted tomb of Queen Nefuru.
- Date
- c. 2060-2010 BCE
- Geography
- Middle Kingdom Period, 11th Dynasty, Thebes, Egypt
- Medium
- flax fiber
- Context
- In ancient Egypt, many aspects of daily life centered on preparing for death. Elaborate tombs and mummification rituals were a key aspect of one’s journey to the afterlife. The Global Museum’s collection contains many significant funerary objects, dating back 3,000 to 4,000 years. In life, however, cultural traditions were surprisingly similar to ones we still practice today. Ancient Egyptians adapted their lives to survive along the fertile Nile River in an otherwise arid desert. In today’s geopolitical boundaries, the country of Egypt is in northeastern Africa. Historically and culturally, however, Egypt is considered Middle Eastern.
- Height
- 12 in
- Width
- 6 in
- Depth
- > 0.25 in
- Copyright
- Copyright status unknown. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing, and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
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- 462