动物木乃伊盒 - 美国大都会艺术博物馆展品查阅

品名（中）	动物木乃伊盒
品名（英）	Box for animal mummy
入馆年号	1890年，90.6.292
策展部门	埃及艺术（Egyptian Art）
创作者
创作年份	公元前 664 - 公元前 30
创作地区	来自于: 埃及（From: Egypt）
分类
尺寸	高 4.3 厘米 (1 11/16 英寸); 宽 2.5 厘米 (1 英寸); 长 10.8 厘米 (4 1/4 英寸)
介绍（中）	鼩鼠是太阳神莱托波利斯的荷鲁斯的神圣动物，但在埃及各地，尤其是三角洲地区，都受到了尊敬。这只老鼠被认为是荷鲁斯的盲眼，它奇迹般地被治愈，从而象征着复活和重生。鼩的鼻子细长，耳朵圆滚滚，身体瘦削。它站在一个长方形的长盒子上，微微蹲着。支柱从后腿延伸到底座，这是一个不同寻常的特点。在制作这件青铜的失蜡铸造工艺中，被称为浇口和通风口的通道可以在铸造过程中释放气体，并减缓青铜的流动。这些通道在铸造的最后一步充满了青铜，然后通常被艺术家切割掉。这些支柱很可能是铸造过程中遗留下来的盒子从后面打开，可以放入动物木乃伊。这件作品很重，背面用一块薄薄的青铜板封闭，这表明里面可能还有一具动物木乃伊。这些类型的泼妇盒子与寺庙和地下墓穴中的其他雕像和动物木乃伊一起被提供，不仅是给莱托波利斯的荷鲁斯，而且更广泛地用于与太阳崇拜有关的场合。更详细的例子，比如这一个，背面刻有太阳符号，证明了太阳的再生能力，类似于在阿皮斯公牛身上发现的符号。
介绍（英）	The shrew mouse was an animal sacred to the solar deity Horus of Letopolis, but was honored all over Egypt, particularly in the Delta. The mouse was considered to be the blind eye of Horus, which was miraculously healed, thereby symbolizing resurrection and rebirth. The shrew has a long narrow snout, rounded ears, and a thin body. It stands in a slightly crouched position on a long rectangular box. Struts extend from the back legs to the base, an unusual feature. In the lost wax casting process, which was used to make this piece, channels called gates and vents allow for the release of gases during casting and ease the flow of the bronze. These channels fill with bronze in the final step of casting and then are usually cut away by the artist afterward. It is likely that these struts are leftovers from the casting process. The box opens at the back for the insertion of an animal mummy. The piece is heavy and the back is closed by a thin bronze plate, which suggests that an animal mummy may still be inside. These types of shrew boxes were offered together with other statuettes and animal mummies in temples and catacombs, not just to Horus of Letopolis, but more broadly in contexts related to solar cult. More detailed examples, such as this one, have solar symbols inscribed on the back that testify to the regenerative power of the sun, similar to those found on Apis bulls.