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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
The Howard Carter Archives
Photographs by Harry Burton
Introduction
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Carter No.: 255

Handlist description: Third (innermost) coffin of gold

Card/Transcription No.: 255-05


No 255. Third (Innermost) Coffin of Gold. 5

quartz backed with red pigment to imitate carnelian and turquoise-coloured glass. The bodies and wings of these two bird- like goddesses are richly encrusted with turquoise, quartz (substitute for carnelian) and lapis lazuli coloured glass let into heavy gold cloisonnés, the whole forming a very rich and massive ornamentation. Feet. Engraved upon the edges of the feet is a lotus and papyrus ornamental device. Engraved upon the soles of the feet is a winged figure of Isis kneeling upon a "Nub-sign"; upon the field (lid) eleven vertical lines of text; upon lower portion (shell) five horizontal lines of text, which read as follows (see note) Shell. The decoration of the shell is a continuation of the ornamentation of the lid save along the upper edge, commencing from the Nemmyes headdress to the feet on both sides a long horizontal hieroglyphic text of which the following is a copy (see note)

Card no. 255-05 relating to Carter no. 255
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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
Concept & Direction: Jaromir Malek
Web Page & Database Designs: Jonathan Moffett
Scanning & transcript: Sue Hutchison, Elizabeth Miles, Diana Magee, Kent Rawlinson