古埃及，晚期 木 石棺碎片，手部，来自博物馆 (没有保留价)

ITEM: Fragment of a sarcophagus, hands
MATERIAL: Wood
CULTURE: Egyptian
PERIOD: Late period, 664 - 332 B.C
DIMENSIONS: 75 mm x 115 mm each
CONDITION: Good condition. Includes stand
PROVENANCE: Ex Spanish private collection, acquired in 2020 from Ifergan Museum in Málaga

The attached wooden hands found on ancient Egyptian anthropoid (human-shaped) sarcophagi were vital components of funerary iconography, emerging prominently during the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1077 BCE) and continuing through the Ptolemaic Period. Carved separately and mortised into the lid of the coffin, these hands served to externalize the deceased from their enshrouding mummy wrappings, projecting a lifelike presence. The artistic execution was highly gendered: men were typically depicted with clenched fists—often pierced to hold separate wooden amulets, scepters, or rolls of papyrus—while women were conventionally shown with flat, open hands resting gracefully against their thighs or chest, emphasizing fertility and rebirth.

Beyond mere anatomy, these wooden hands functioned as a powerful magical locus for transformation and action in the afterlife. In Egyptian theology, a successful transition to the underworld required the deceased to regain their physical senses and bodily autonomy, a concept deeply tied to the "Opening of the Mouth" ritual. By physically manifesting hands on the exterior of the sarcophagus, the coffin became a dynamic vehicle allowing the soul (Ka) to grasp, eat, make offerings, and actively participate in the resurrection mysteries of Osiris. Furthermore, the positioning of the hands crossed over the chest mirrored the posture of Osiris himself, directly identifying the deceased with the god of the underworld to ensure eternal life.

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