Wooden Anthropoid Coffin of Bakenmut
Wood, plaster, paint, with hieroglyphic inscriptions
21st Dynasty, Third Intermediate Period (1070–945 B.C.)

This anthropoid coffin, made for Bakenmut, is fashioned from wood and coated with painted plaster. The surface is decorated with detailed polychrome scenes and hieroglyphic texts, reflecting funerary beliefs of the 21st Dynasty.

Bakenmut was an important ancient Egyptian official who lived during the 25th Dynasty, around the reign of Pharaoh Taharqa (690–664 BCE). He held the prestigious title of High Priest of Amun in Thebes, one of the most powerful religious positions in Egypt at the time.

As High Priest, Bakenmut played a central role in both the spiritual life of the kingdom and its political affairs, since the temple of Amun at Karnak was not only a religious center but also a major economic and administrative institution. Monuments and inscriptions mentioning Bakenmut highlight his influence and his close connection to the royal family, reflecting the intertwining of religion and politics in ancient Egyptian society.