Limestone, Painted
200-100 BCE
Egypt
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Egypt, Ptolemaic (Greek-ruled) Egypt
Theme
Ancient Societies
Subtheme
Frailties of childhood
Case Title
Will the child servive?
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
(ancient Alexandria), Egypt
Measurements
39 x 30 x 10 cm
Accession Number
1922, 0117.1
Description
Most children’s lives ended in early death. On this tombstone from Egypt, a little girl holds a bird, while playing with a pet dog. Her tunic and shawl show her to be a rich Greek child. Her name would have been painted on the top. Birds often represent the soul.
