Sitting on top of Isabella's desk in the Macknight Room is a small rectangular box with a coiled snake on top—a reptilian sarcophagus.
Egyptian, Sarcophagus for a Serpent, 9th Century BC-4th Century BC
Ancient Egyptians believed in the rebirth of the soul after death, and tombs were often filled with objects that would aid the deceased in their transition from the earthly to the spiritual realm. Snakes, which shed their skin, were symbols of reincarnation making them particularly appropriate companions for a person who wished to be resurrected in the afterlife.
Tray kept on top of Isabella's desk in the Macknight Room, showing her arrangement of objects, including the Sarcophagus for a Serpent
Isabella likely purchased this sarcophagus during her travels in Egypt in 1874-75. During this trip, she kept diaries and scrapbooks that attest to her excitement for the culture and beauty of the region. On one page, Isabella describes her experience visiting the Great Sphinx and Pyramids at Giza, “Solemnity and mystery took possession and my heart went out to the Sphinx.”