This coffin housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, is a well-preserved example of craftsmanship during the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, particularly during Amenhotep III's reign. Thuya, a notable noblewoman, filled significant roles such as the Great of the Harim of Min and Aten and Nurse of the Pharaoh's Daughter.
Built from sturdy wood, the approximately two-meter high coffin showcases a variety of engravings, symbols, and hieroglyphs, all finished in gold leaf or brightly colored paint, in accordance with traditional Egyptian funerary conventions. This detailed artistic design is a source of information about Thuya's life and status, as well as her religious beliefs.
A realistic wooden portrait of Thuya graces the front of the coffin, celebrating the skillful portraiture common in the art of the Amarna period. This painting gives the impression of life to the otherwise inanimate object.
The base of the coffin features various religious and protection scenes, familiar from the Book of the Dead - each carefully carved, painted, and decorated. The yellow color of the inner panel represents the divine, showing an image of sky-goddess Nut providing a sanctuary for Thuya's rebirth.
The coffin lid, marked by the figures of goddesses Isis and Nephthys, contains a rich combination of hieroglyphic inscriptions and symbolic illustrations. A Djed-pillar, a symbol of stability, is carved into the foot area, and figures of Osiris, the 'Four Sons of Horus,' are positioned inside for protection, accompanied by an intricately depicted scarab.
