+Hwty-nxt’s chest of Canopic Jars

Abstract

This article discusses a chest of Canopic jars of +Hwty-nxt, during the Middle Kingdom. The chest was found at Deir El-Bersha in Middle Egypt and is preserved now under the number CCG 4740 in the Egyptian Museum. This article aims to identify the quoted spells by comparing its texts with other religious texts (Pyramid text, coffin text, Book of the Dead). A description of the chest of Canopic jars will be presented here, followed by general comments on the style, decoration and text painted on the interior of the chest. The article will also examine the dating of the chest, identification of its owner and the spells quoted from.Number: CCG 4740Discovery: American Excavation in Deir El-Bersha on 6 May 1915Date: 11th DynastyBibliography: The only references that mentioned this chest are:1) George Andrew Reisner, Catalogue general des antiquites Egyptiennes du musee du Caire, Nos 4001-4740 and 4977-5033, Canopics, Le Caire, 1967He only illustrated the texts (in which I found a few signs that he miscopied, so it was misleading in some parts) and gave a brief description of the whole chest. 2) Barbara LUSCHER, Untersuchungen zu agyptischen Kanopenkasten: Vom Alten Reich bis zum Ende der Zweiten Zwischenzeit, Hildesheim: Gerstenberg Verlag, 1990She mentioned the chest and gave a brief description and a few suggestions of the different deities represented in the interior of the chest. She also quoted the text on the chest to the Pyramid Text and Coffin Text.Material and form: The chest is wooden and almost cubical in shape, with two cleats on its bottom running from front to back. The lower part is divided from the inside into four compartments; the lid has no inscriptions or colors.Measurements: 60.5 cm high, 55.5 cm long and 57.5 cm wide.Coloring: The exterior has vertical edges overlaid with gilt. Band, yellow with blue border, containing one horizontal line of inscription, around upper part. Ground color, originally yellow.On each side of the interior is one horizontal band above and one vertical one on both sides. Inside the space, enclosed by these bands, there is a different number of vertical lines of inscription. Ground color, inside, brownish yellow.Owner: A lady named +Hwty-nxt. This name was very common during the era and providence; this name mostly refers to a male character, although here it refers to a feminine character.The exterior of the chest is divided into four compartments; each has one horizontal line of hieroglyphic text that includes one of Horus’ four sons. However, The interior is also divided into four compartments, each of which contains cursive hieroglyphic vertical lines, and is divided into two parts. There is vertical text in the upper part; below that, there are two figures of deities. The name of the deity is written next to them. It is remarkable that the text was written in hand-writing cursive hieroglyphic, it is clear that the scribe made a few corrections during preparing the chest; these could be noted through the brownish color on the texts in specific spots