Shoshenq II was a ruler of Egypt’s Twenty-second Dynasty, which belonged to the Third Intermediate Period. His precise position in the royal succession and the length of his reign remain subjects of scholarly discussion. He is often identified as a son of Pharaoh Osorkon I and may have served as his father’s co-regent.
Shoshenq II’s burial is among the most remarkable discoveries of the royal necropolis at Tanis. He was reburied in the antechamber of the tomb of Pharaoh Psusennes I, where archaeologist Pierre Montet discovered his burial in 1939.
Unlike many other ancient Egyptian royal burials, his burial had escaped ancient tomb robbers. It contained an extraordinary collection of funerary treasures, including a gold funerary mask, a magnificent silver coffin with a falcon-shaped head, jewelry, amulets, and other precious objects.
The Silver Coffin of King Shoshenq II
One of the most remarkable objects discovered in Shoshenq II’s burial was his silver coffin, distinguished by its falcon-headed design.
The burial also included four small silver canopic coffins, which were designed to hold the king’s internal organs. These miniature coffins served as an alternative to traditional canopic jars.
Resembling miniature sarcophagi, they depict the king wearing the royal Nemes headdress, crowned with a uraeus—the rearing cobra that symbolized royal authority and divine protection.
The Gold Funerary Mask of Shoshenq II
Shoshenq II’s gold funerary mask was discovered on his mummified remains, although it had sustained considerable damage.
Crafted from a thick sheet of gold, the mask features hollow spaces for the eyes and eyebrows, which were originally intended to contain glass paste.
It was attached to the mummy using five small perforated tenons: three positioned on the forehead and two below the ears.
The mask portrays the king with youthful facial features, reflecting ancient Egyptian funerary beliefs in which the deceased was symbolically restored to youth and renewed life in the afterlife.
How Did Shoshenq II Die?
An examination of Shoshenq II’s mummy by the anatomist Dr. Douglas Derry revealed evidence of a severe septic infection associated with a head wound. This finding has led to the suggestion that the infection may have caused the king’s death.
The circumstances surrounding his original burial are also intriguing.
Traces of plant growth discovered near the base of his coffin have been interpreted as evidence that his original burial place may have experienced prolonged exposure to standing water.
Since the antechamber of Psusennes I’s tomb showed no evidence of similar flooding, researchers have suggested that Shoshenq II’s mummy and funerary equipment were transferred from another burial site before being reinterred at Tanis.
His burial therefore offers valuable insights into royal funerary practices, the reuse of tombs, and the history of Egypt’s Twenty-second Dynasty.
