TAA i.3.16.2
Annotated typewritten notes on the niche containing the Osiris figure. Pinned to it is a piece of (reused) paper (6.3 x 7.0-7.2 cm (h x w)) including Carter's transcriptions for this figure.
© Griffith Institute,
University of Oxford
No.257.
A NICHE cut in the east wall, facing the foot end of the sar-
cophagus (right, S.E., corner), 120 cents. above the floor of the
Burial-chamber.
THE NICHE takes the form of a <shallow> roughtly cut recess of
rectangular shape, 27 cents. high, 20 cents. wide, and 18 cents.
deep. It was closed by the means of a suitable but irregular
shaped splinter of limestone, which was plastered over flush with
the surface of the wall and then painted over to match the colour
decorating the wall.
THE NICHE CONTAINED an Osiris figure standing upon a brick<-like->
(pedestal), facing south, and made, like the brick<->(pedestal)
itself, of unbaked clay. Both the figure and the brick (pedestal)
were completely swathed in narrow strips of fine linen averaging
3 to 4 cents. in width.
THE OSIRIS FIGURE, 16.8 cents. high (= 9 digits), wearing the
simple form of the atef-crown and beard, is modelled upon a
stick support inserted in the brick (pedestal). The figure is
cracked in several places due to shrinkage <of the clay> when drying.
THE BRICK (pedestal), 13.1 cents. long, 6.5 cents. wide, and
3.7 cents. thick (= 7 x 3½ x 2 digits), has graven upon its up-
per surface, infrontsic of the figure, the following incantation
in hieroglyphic characters:
<[ 𓂀 ]> ? msh [ 𓂀 ] crocodile
On the bottom of the brick (pedestal) are traces of red paint.
This unique figure appears to take the place of the reed torch
mentioned in the Book of the Dead (Ch. CLI), however, it must not
be forgotten that a small reed torch with its brick<->(pedestal) of
unbaked clay bearing an incantation graven in hieroglyphic char-
acters was found on the floor within the threshold of the entrance
of the Treasury (see No. 263).