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The oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum offers a glimpse of the life of an early 19th century merchant family.
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With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

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Completed in 1794, this former home now presents a mix of art and artifacts. See what's on view

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and the Wisteria Cafe.

Perry Glass Studio

A state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. See a free glassmaking demo Tuesdays–Sunday at noon. Like what you see? Take a class with us! More about the Studio

Moses Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

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The perfect place for your big day or special event. Get the details

Take a tour

We offer a number of tours on different topics. More about tours

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

About the Chrysler

Our story spans well over 100 years. See where we began, how we grew, and where we're going. Explore our history

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See what's happening at the Museum, read Chrysler Magazine, and find our Media Center. Read now

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745 Duke Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-333-6299

Always Free Parking

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Third Thursdays

Live art performances monthly.
See the archive

Studio Team

Meet the brilliant minds behind the Studio.
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Studio Assistantship Program

Further your career and join us in Norfolk.
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The Masterpiece Society

Learn about this innovative group of museum supporters.
Meet the Masterpiece Society

Planned Giving

Help ensure the long-term success of the Museum.
Learn about planned giving

Historic Houses

Located on Freemason St. —

Open Saturday and Sunday

Noon–5 p.m.

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

By Appointment

Tuesday-Thursday

10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Moses Myers House

The oldest Jewish home in America open to the public as a museum offers a glimpse of the life of an early 19th century merchant family.
More about the house

About the Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Art Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

Willoughby-Baylor House

Completed in 1794, this former home now presents a mix of art and artifacts. See what's on view

Located in Norfolk

One Memorial Place,
Norfolk, VA
Get Directions

While You're Here

Visit our Museum Shop
and the Wisteria Cafe.

Perry Glass Studio

A state-of-art facility on the Museum’s campus. See a free glassmaking demo Tuesdays–Sunday at noon. Like what you see? Take a class with us! More about the Studio

Moses Myers House

The home of the first permanent Jewish residents of Norfolk, this historic house offers a glimpse of the life of a wealthy early 19th-century merchant family.
More about the house

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

With an extensive collection of more than 106,000 rare and unique volumes relating to the history of art, the Jean Outland Chrysler Library is one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the Library

Weddings & Event Rentals

The perfect place for your big day or special event. Get the details

Take a tour

We offer a number of tours on different topics. More about tours

Jean Outland Chrysler Library

Visit one of the most significant art libraries in the South. More about the library

About the Chrysler

Our story spans well over 100 years. See where we began, how we grew, and where we're going. Explore our history

News and Announcements

See what's happening at the Museum, read Chrysler Magazine, and find our Media Center. Read now

Location

745 Duke Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-333-6299

Always Free Parking

Get Directions

Third Thursdays

Live art performances monthly.
See the archive

Studio Team

Meet the brilliant minds behind the Studio.
See the team

Studio Assistantship Program

Further your career and join us in Norfolk.
Find out more

The Masterpiece Society

Learn about this innovative group of museum supporters.
Meet the Masterpiece Society

Planned Giving

Help ensure the long-term success of the Museum.
Learn about planned giving

Collections Menu
Sarcophagus of Psamtik-Seneb

Sarcophagus of Psamtik-Seneb

Artist: Unknown
Date: Late Period, Dynasty 26, 664-525 B.C.E.
Medium: Gray schist
Dimensions:
86 in., estimated 10,000-17,000 lbs
Classification: Egyptian
Credit Line: Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number: 71.2254
Terms
  • Death
  • Funeral
  • Medicine
  • Gray
  • Heliopolis
In Collection(s)
On view
DescriptionGray schist sarcophagus of Psamtik-Seneb (Doctor of Medicine). Late XXVI dynasty. From his tomb discovered at Heliopolis, 1931/32 A.D. Inscribed around and across top with hieroglyphs from the Book of the Dead, prob. 65th chapter. A "production" sarcophagus to be personalized by buyer. Outer anthropoid sarcophagus composed of a box and its lid. The box is broken on top of the head and in the corner of the deceased's left foot, where a piece of stone is missing. But this crack must be ancient, for the hieroglyphic inscription follows and covers it. A long crack runs around the lid but has been plastered. The lid shows an idealized face of the deceased with a long hair and an up-turned braided false-beard. He's wearing a broad necklace made of 12 rows of beads, alternatively flowers and geometrical patterns, with a falcon head on each shoulder. Underneath this collar is the figure of a goddess: she's half kneeling half crouching, spreading her winged arms and holding a feather in each hand. She's wearing a sun-disk on her head, a headband, a broad necklace and a tight long dress. The space between the goddess and the feet of the sarcophagus is filled with a frame divided into eight columns. Those on the left and right show four standing deities, turned toward the center of the frame. In the left column, from top to bottom, are an anthropoid god, another god now erased by the crack, a second anthropoid god, and a falcon-headed god, carrying a jar before him. In the right column are a baboon-headed deity, a falcon-headed god, another one erased by the crack, and a last one of whom remains only the tip of an animal head. Between these two columns are six vertical lines of hieroglyphs.The box of the sarcophagus is plain and without any decoration but one line of text running around it.
Label textSarcophagus of Psamtik-Seneb
Late Period, Dynasty 26, 664-525 B.C.E.
Schist, 86 in., estimated 10,000-17,000 lb.
Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA
Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
71.2254

Carved of stone, alabaster, or another highly durable material, the sarcophagus served as the protective outer receptacle for the mummy, with the wooden coffin (or several layers of coffins) nested inside it. Such elaborate and costly burial boxes were typically reserved for the elite. When this sarcophagus was unearthed in a tomb near Cairo in 1931, the burial chamber contained alabaster canopic jars (to hold the deceased's organs) and numerous shabties, additional signs that the deceased had been a wealthy man in life. By then the sarcophagus had already been opened and emptied by tomb robbers.

The hieroglyphs on the sarcophagus identify the deceased as Psamtik-Seneb, "the scorpion charmer." In ancient Egypt, scorpion charmers were healers who treated scorpion stings and snakes bites, a crucial job in a land where venomous insects and animals constantly threatened men and cattle. The pharaohs themselves had scorpion charmers in their service and included them on royal expeditions to safeguard against snake and insect bites.


Published References Parke-Bernet _Sale Catalog_, 18 Dec. 1970, lot 40, ill., ex. coll: CAMOP. Jeff Harrison, _Collecting with Vision: Treasures From the Chrysler Museum of Art_ (London: D. Giles Ltd., 2007), 17, fig. 5. The University of California at Berkeley, _The Book of the Dead in 3D_, accessible at https://3dcoffins.berkeley.edu/coffins/chrysler-museum-art-712254 and https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/cma-712254-psamtik-seneb-33e8ca175ff84d798402fb981cb71cf5 (June 2020).