Wood and gesso Ba bird. Ancient Egyptian, Ptolemaic Period, circa 304-30 B.

A polychrome wood and gesso Ba bird.

Ancient Egyptian, Ptolemaic Period, circa 304-30 B.C.

Measures 11 x 10 x 4cm.

The Ba, considered the soul of the departed, was believed to depart the earthly body at death to unite with the sun god in the sky. Typically depicted as a bird, sometimes with human features, it had to periodically return to the burial chamber to reunite with the mummy. This regular reconnection of body and soul was essential for ensuring the deceased’s eternal existence in the afterlife.