The coffin of King Shoshenq II
Did you know that the sarcophagus of King Shoshenq II is one of the most amazing ancient Egyptian monuments? It is not just a coffin containing a body, but a magnificent work of art that tells the story of the life and death of this great king. The coffin of Shoshenq II is made of silver and exquisite engravings, and weighs about 400 kilograms. Its face features a carving of the mask of Horus, the god of the sky and kings in ancient Egypt, which symbolized power and protection. On either side of the coffin, we find scenes from the Book of the Dead, which describes the king's journey to the afterlife and the tests he faces. Shoshenq II was a powerful and wise king who ruled Egypt from 887 to 885 BC, during the Twenty-Second Dynasty. He was succeeded by his son Takelot I, who continued to rule Egypt successfully. The sarcophagus of Shoshenq II is a witness to Egypt's ancient history and rich culture.
His cemetery
We have previously talked about how this tomb was discovered when talking about the tomb of King “Psusennes I.” See the Pharaohs of the Twenty-First Dynasty in the Tanis of Pharaoh “Psusennes” by Baseb Khanut, and we will talk here about the contents of the coffin in which this king was buried.
The coffin of this king, made of silver, has the head of a falcon (see Photo No. 14). It was found on a pedestal, and evidence of the conditions indicated that it was intact and had not been harmed. At first it was thought, with regard to the place in which it was found, that it belonged to King “Psusennes,” but when it was removed The cover of his coffin featured the gilded scrolls of the Pharaoh, and it became clear from reading the name that it belonged to the king nicknamed “Haqqa Khabar Ra,” and he is, as we mentioned before, “Sheshenq II.” The coffin is made of silver, and it is in the shape of a coffin with the head of a falcon, and it does not have any decorations on the outside. He contented himself with depicting a female image within it.
But on the other hand, the artist who made it showed skill in decorating the lid of this coffin. It is in the form of a human being with the head of a falcon, and the two braids of wigs that adorn his head. The artist used methods in shaping them, and the falcon’s beak is a borrowed one. The artist surrounded the eyes with three incised circles, and he outlined the wig with lines. Parallel, and between the two braids were placed a string of beaded necklaces, while the hands were holding a scepter and a scepter and were made separately. After the hair braids, a winged scarab can be seen surrounding three rows of flower-shaped ornaments, and a bird with the head of a ram is seen spreading its wings over the entire width of the cover. The tail of this bird begins a line of inscriptions expressing the wishes of the deceased king, and here is the translation:
O Osiris, King Sheshenq, beloved of Amun, you will take bread to Hetakptah (Memphis), and you will renew the offerings to On (Ain Shams). I wish you could see Aten shining in his ship when he is born every day throughout eternity. .
Source: websites