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Wood and bone box: E.1.1962

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Current Location: Gallery 24

Titles

Wood and bone box

Entities

Categories

Description

Wood casket, with bone relief of Dionysos and panther.

Wood box with carved relief on the outside. The two long sides have images of peacocks and lotus flowers. The short ends have two floral motifs and a knot (possibly a reference to the Egyptian tyet knot, that was linked with Isis or perhaps a bundle of cloth or corn?); the second end has a single peacock, which is covered by the copper alloy lock plate and the iron pin that once held the lock in place. The lid slides off the box and on this is a carved bone inlay. The represents the god Dionysos (the Greek and Roman god of wine and also the underworld though association with the Egyptian Osiris). The god stands with his arm placed behind his head and to his side is a panther. In Greek mythology the baby Dionysos was often shown riding a panther. It is possible that the box was associated with a festival of Dionysos or was made for the burial by association with the underworld links of this particular god.

Measurements and weight

Height: 0.06 m
Length: 0.085 m

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1962) by The Egypt Exploration Society

Dating

Roman
301 CE - 400 CE

Components of the work

Lock composed of iron
Relief composed of bone
Lockplate composed of copper alloy
Metal
Wood-bone

Materials used in production

Wood

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: E.1.1962
Primary reference Number: 62960

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Friday 18 July 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Antiquities

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Wood and bone box" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/62960 Accessed: 2025-12-05 16:39:13

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/62960 |title=Wood and bone box |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 16:39:13|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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