Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Tutankhamun's Carnelian Swallow with Sun Disc: Part of a Garment

1997; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 83; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/030751339708300106

2514-0582

Bart Hellinckx,

Archaeology and ancient environmental studies

One of the objects found on the mummy of Tutankhamun is a small gold bracelet with a carnelian swallow supporting the sun's disc. Archival documents prove unequivocally that the two pieces were not discovered together. No parallels are known for the motif of the solar swallow in combination with a bracelet, although the motif is fairly frequently attested in connection with a special type of royal garment. As the find-spot of the swallow corresponds very well with the position of the accessories of such a garment on Tutankhamun's mummy, the correctness of Carter's reconstruction is questioned. It is suggested that the swallow formed an ensemble with the other accessories of the garment, i.e. a sheet-gold belt, a beadwork apron and a beaded tail. A gold dagger in its sheath probably also belongs to this group.