Golden Shrine with Goddesses

Ancient Egyptian This small gilded shrine with goddesses contained jewelry and precious objects in Tutankhamun's tomb. The wooden shrine is covered in gold leaf and features four protective goddesses on each corner, their wings wrapping around the sides. Created around 1323 BCE, the shrine demonstrates how even secondary storage containers received lavish decoration in royal tombs.

The four goddesses shown are Isis, Nephthys, Neith, and Serket, the same quartet protecting the canopic shrine. Their inclusion on this smaller piece emphasizes how thoroughly the Egyptians surrounded their kings with divine protection. The shrine's contents included amulets, figurines, and ritual objects needed for the afterlife journey.

The shrine is now displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum among the many gilded treasures from the tomb.