The Tastemaker

Note

The ancient Egyptians believed that the first to achieve eternal life following death was the god Osiris. Following his murder by his brother Set, Osiris’ body was scattered throughout Egypt. It was Osiris’ devoted wife Isis who traveled across the country, collecting body parts with the aid of the other gods, to restore her husband. Thus, Osiris became the first mummy and the mythological basis for Egyptian embalming practices. In this sarcophagus front we see a reflection of this ancient myth through the use of yellow-gold pigment to the face; the ancient Egyptians believed that the skin of Osiris (and all gods) was formed of gold; its eternal, unchanging nature and solar glow reflecting the divine. As such, a mask such as the present example was intended to equate its wearer with the divine in the hope of eternal life. Whilst individuals at the very pinnacle of society would have had their sarcophagus adorned with gold leaf, in this instance we see the owner has opted for a golden pigment, suggesting an individual of middling income.