After 6-year Absence for Restoration, Mummy Returns to Holy Cross Read Time 1 Minute Dinand Library"s Archives and Special Collections is home to many rare and unusual publications, photography, artwork, objects and artifacts.But for most of the past six years, the Library has been without what is perhaps the most remarkable part of its collection: a 2,500-year-old Egyptian mummy and its coffin.The 29-inch mummy of a young girl – named Tanetpahekau (which translates as "daughter of the magic god") – first arrived at Holy Cross in 1896, donated by alumnus Rev. Peter Skelly. After more than a century, the mummy and the coffin had begun to deteriorate and had become extremely fragile. In 2000, James E. Hogan, director of library services, took action. Hogan approached Rika Smith McNally, a conservator of objects and sculpture. McNally contacted the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, which offers a program, in conjunction with the University of Delaware, leading to a master of science degree in art conservation. Winterthur agreed to study and restore the mummy and coffin without charge if the College would allow the museum to keep the artifact for two years.Conservators told Holy Cross that mummies of children are rare; and that at 36 inches, the decorated coffin was one of the smallest they had seen. Based on analysis, the Winterthur experts believe the girl’s approximate date of death was 650 B.C. The mummy is wrapped in brown linen that, in turn, is covered in a net of blue-green ceramic beads. The wooden case is painted in blue, black, red, yellow and white. Hieroglyphics decorate the case lid.Before returning to Holy Cross, the restored mummy and coffin were loaned to the Worcester Art Museum, and had a prominent place in the recent Egyptomania exhibition. More Stories Image Go to Story Grammy-Winning Composer Osvaldo Golijov Premieres New Concerto Image Go to Story How One Week in March Can Change a Life Image Go to Story Students Work to Increase Employment Opportunities for Neurodiverse People View All Stories
