One of the Fayum mummy portraits, Roman Egypt, 1st-3rd century AD

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One of the Fayum mummy portraits, Roman Egypt, 1st-3rd century AD
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My take away from all the Fayum portraits I’ve seen is that the people were all hot and died pretty young.

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I think they made these portraits while they were still alive to be used when the time came.

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This is what wikipedia has on the matter

According to Susan Walker, C.A.T.scans reveal a correspondence of age and sex between mummy and image. She concludes that the age distribution reflects the low life expectancy at the time.

It was often believed that the wax portraits were completed during the life of the individual and displayed in their home, a custom that belonged to the traditions of Greek art, this view is no longer widely held given the evidence suggested by the C.A.T. scans of the Fayum mummies, as well as Roman census returns.

But also idk how big the sample of that study was, I believe a lot of the portraits were de attached from the corresponding mummy. Might require more diggin’.

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