The funerary couch, constructed from wood and covered with gilded plaster, is crafted to resemble two elongated lionesses. These lionesses are representative of the goddess Mehit, embodying her protective and guiding presence. In ancient Egyptian mythology, Mehit was ᴀssociated with the afterlife, offering protection to the deceased during their journey to the underworld.

The use of gilded plaster highlights the importance and divine nature of the couch, reflecting the belief in the eternal and divine protection granted by Mehit. The intricate design and craftsmanship of the funerary couch underscore the significance placed on ensuring the pharaoh’s safe pᴀssage and well-being in the afterlife.

The eyes of these animals are inlaid with blue glᴀss paste; the eyelids are colored in black. The central panel is decorated with the Djed and the Ankh signs.

Three ritual funerary couches were found in the antechamber of Tutankhamun.

They are made of stuccoed gilded wood in the form of sacred animals whose eyes are inlaid with colored glᴀss paste. These beds may have been intended to bear the deceased king during his journey to his eternal destination in the afterlife.

Lions were widespread in prehistoric times and still present in the Nile Valley in the late Pharaonic civilization. The lion was an important element in royal symbolism and divine iconography, the latter being mostly female.