Mirror disk

The bronze object was once the disk of a mirror, whose polished surface was an important accessory among the cosmetic utensils of the elite, but mirrors are often found as grave goods, too. In the latter role, they assisted in the rebirth of the deceased in the afterlife. The plate, which symbolises the solar disk and thus the sun god, is elongated downwards to show the sun setting on the horizon, while below it, a handle imitating a common stylised papyrus plant illustrates the setting of the sun in a papyrus swamp. This evokes the mythical place of creation, referring to birth, regeneration, and rebirth, consequently, the mirror supports the cyclical renewal of life. The handle at the bottom of the plate is elegant, thin, and long, a feature of New Kingdom mirrors in particular.