Sarcophagus of Merenptah: the lid
This is the red granite lid of one of the four sarcophagi employed by Merenptah. This one is the second inner sarcophagus. It has an oval lid in form of a cartouche containing the figure of Merenptah. The king is represented in a mummified form, crossing his arm on the breast and holding the power emblems, fail and crook. He wears the royal headdress, the nemes, with uraeus on the forehead and the false beard. The king and the cartouche are surrounded by a long huge protective serpent, Mehen.
