| Deir el-Medina stelae, offering tables and other fragments from the Petrie Museum |
This page was last updated on May 1st 2011
Sources:
1. Museum's own labels
2. Museum's web site at www.petrie.ucl.ac.uk
3.Trope, Betsy Teasley: Excavating Egypt : Great discoveries from the Petrie
Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London
Atlanta : Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, 2005.
4. Friedman, Florence: Meaning of some anthropoid busts from Deir el-Medina
IN : The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 71 (1985), pp. 82-97.
1. Museum's own labels
2. Museum's web site at www.petrie.ucl.ac.uk
3.Trope, Betsy Teasley: Excavating Egypt : Great discoveries from the Petrie
Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London
Atlanta : Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, 2005.
4. Friedman, Florence: Meaning of some anthropoid busts from Deir el-Medina
IN : The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 71 (1985), pp. 82-97.
UC14446
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, around 1295-1186 BC
Limestone
Offering table of Penrennut, "servant in the
Place of Truth". The damaged spout is incised
with two columns of lotuses. Between them
there is one column of hieroglyphic inscription
on the base of the table. There is also a
crude cake and two 'leeks' on either side of
the spout.
Length: 18.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Depth: 4.75 cm
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, around 1295-1186 BC
Limestone
Offering table of Penrennut, "servant in the
Place of Truth". The damaged spout is incised
with two columns of lotuses. Between them
there is one column of hieroglyphic inscription
on the base of the table. There is also a
crude cake and two 'leeks' on either side of
the spout.
Length: 18.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Depth: 4.75 cm
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UC14354
From Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty, about 1160 BC
Limestone
Offering stela of a person seated to the left of the
offering table. A young male on the right side stands in
the posture of reverence. Above the male and the
offering table there is an inscription, consisting of seven
short vertical columns of hieroglyphs (damaged at the
right), identifying both men as "3h ikr n R'", "the able
spirit of Ra". The seated man is named Djaydjay, the
standing man Khnum-[...]. At the top register there is
a boat of Ra coloured yellow and red. Traces of red,
yellow and blue pigments are surviving on the rest of
the stela.
Height: 29 cm
Width: 22.5 cm
From Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty, about 1160 BC
Limestone
Offering stela of a person seated to the left of the
offering table. A young male on the right side stands in
the posture of reverence. Above the male and the
offering table there is an inscription, consisting of seven
short vertical columns of hieroglyphs (damaged at the
right), identifying both men as "3h ikr n R'", "the able
spirit of Ra". The seated man is named Djaydjay, the
standing man Khnum-[...]. At the top register there is
a boat of Ra coloured yellow and red. Traces of red,
yellow and blue pigments are surviving on the rest of
the stela.
Height: 29 cm
Width: 22.5 cm
UC14423
Probably from Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty (1186-1069 BC)
Limestone
Height: 20 cm
Width: 12.7 cm
This is a right-hand part of a framed stele of Kaha.
It shows the deified Amenhotep I (1551-1524 BC)
standing to the left, holding a spear in his left hand.
The two cartouches next to him identify him as
Amenhotep Djeserkare. To his right there is a priest
standing in adoring position. The priest's name is
written in a hieroglyphic inscription above his head.
Probably from Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty (1186-1069 BC)
Limestone
Height: 20 cm
Width: 12.7 cm
This is a right-hand part of a framed stele of Kaha.
It shows the deified Amenhotep I (1551-1524 BC)
standing to the left, holding a spear in his left hand.
The two cartouches next to him identify him as
Amenhotep Djeserkare. To his right there is a priest
standing in adoring position. The priest's name is
written in a hieroglyphic inscription above his head.
UC14229
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, around 1186-1295 BC
Limestone
Offering table of Anakht, "chisel-bearer in
the Place of Truth' (king's tomb craftsman).
Hieroglyphic inscription inscribed around the
edges. Only the right half of the object is in
the museum.
Height: 18 cm
Width: max. 12 cm
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, around 1186-1295 BC
Limestone
Offering table of Anakht, "chisel-bearer in
the Place of Truth' (king's tomb craftsman).
Hieroglyphic inscription inscribed around the
edges. Only the right half of the object is in
the museum.
Height: 18 cm
Width: max. 12 cm
UC14439
Found at Thebes, probably from Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, 1295-1186 BC)
Limestone
Width: 14 cm
Height: 7.5 cm
Upper part of a votive stele showing a coiled
cobra with double falcon plume on her head.
The worshipper's name is illegible in the
hieroglyphic inscription, the rest reads "beloved
of the goddess Meretseger".
Found at Thebes, probably from Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, 1295-1186 BC)
Limestone
Width: 14 cm
Height: 7.5 cm
Upper part of a votive stele showing a coiled
cobra with double falcon plume on her head.
The worshipper's name is illegible in the
hieroglyphic inscription, the rest reads "beloved
of the goddess Meretseger".
UC14379
Possibly from Deir el-Medina
Ramesside Period (1295-1069 BC)
Limestone
Height: 20.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Fragment from a tomb. In the lower left
side of the fragment there is an upper
part of a royal head and face with uraeus
on the forehead. Above the head there is
a cartouche of Ahmes Nefertari, the
queen of Ahmose I (1570-1546 BC), the
mother of Amenhotep I (1551-1524 BC).
Possibly from Deir el-Medina
Ramesside Period (1295-1069 BC)
Limestone
Height: 20.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Fragment from a tomb. In the lower left
side of the fragment there is an upper
part of a royal head and face with uraeus
on the forehead. Above the head there is
a cartouche of Ahmes Nefertari, the
queen of Ahmose I (1570-1546 BC), the
mother of Amenhotep I (1551-1524 BC).
UC14599
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty (1295-1186 BC)
Limestone
Width: 32 cm
Height: 18.5 cm
Fragment of a stela from the tomb of
Khawey, who had a title "Guardian in
the Place of Truth".
The stela shows a pair of human heads
on the left side and a male head on
the right side. There is a hieroglyphic
inscription around the head on the
right.
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty (1295-1186 BC)
Limestone
Width: 32 cm
Height: 18.5 cm
Fragment of a stela from the tomb of
Khawey, who had a title "Guardian in
the Place of Truth".
The stela shows a pair of human heads
on the left side and a male head on
the right side. There is a hieroglyphic
inscription around the head on the
right.
| The New Kingdom stelae very often show the owner in adoration in front of deities. The position of honour seems to be the left, so the deities occupy that area, and may be seated, while the owner stands to their right. Stelae of the 18th dynasty often show only the owner, his wife and his children. Stelae of the Ramesside period may include other family members. The upper parts of offering tables were often carved with the loaves, trussed ducks and vessels, so that the stone-carved images could serve as magical substitutes for the real food offerings. Usually the hieroglyphic offering formula and/or lists of produce are also present. Sometimes there were grooves or channels cut into the surface of the table so that liquids such as water, beer or wine could be poured on to the table. |
© Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL
The text and photography Lenka Peacock
The text and photography Lenka Peacock
UC34325
From Deir el-Medina
Ramesside period, (1069BC-1295BC)
Limestone
The fragment comes from a tomb wall and
comprises the remains of three horizontal
registers. The background was painted yellow and
also remains of reddish and blue pigments are
visible.
Height: 29.5 cm
Width: 23.2 cm
From the Mary Broderick bequest
From Deir el-Medina
Ramesside period, (1069BC-1295BC)
Limestone
The fragment comes from a tomb wall and
comprises the remains of three horizontal
registers. The background was painted yellow and
also remains of reddish and blue pigments are
visible.
Height: 29.5 cm
Width: 23.2 cm
From the Mary Broderick bequest
| Top register: leg and foot in a sandal on the left side, before the words "on the west of Thebes" (hr imnt W3st). Also visible are the remains of the white skirt. Middle register: "... made by (likely with the meaning: son of) one who is greatly favoured by ...", [...r.n Hsy aA n ...] [with thanks to Jan Kunst from the Netherlands for the translation and transliteration] Bottom register: a couple facing to the right, only the heads remain. The man is wearing a cone on his head, the woman - according to the inscription "his wife" (hmt.f) wears a cone on her head and a blue lotus on her forehead. Her name is illegible. |
| Seventy-five examples of small anthropoid, oracular or ancestral busts have been revealed during excavations at Deir el-Medina. They generally do not bear any inscriptions, but some are inscribed for specific individuals. Typically small, they measure from 10 to 25 cm in height (there are 2 known bigger busts, one of which is the bust of Muteminet EA 1198 in the British Museum measuring 51 cm) and are made of limestone or sandstone. We can assume that most were originally painted as remains of pigment on some are evident. The gender of the most of the busts is open to question. The figures are referred to as 'ancestor busts'. It is thought that they were placed in the small shrine areas which seemed to form part of private homes, and played a part in the private devotions of the family. Five busts were found in houses at Deir el-Medina, where they could have been placed in wall niches in the first and second rooms. The wall niches are comparable in size, so this seems probable. Rather than representing anyone in particular, the busts anonymous nature suggests that they represent all the ancestors whom the family might wish to commemorate. Another theory is that they represent "the able spirit" of those, who had been authoritative in life, by inference, the older members of the community. In troubled times people turned to them for help, i.e. to a parent still remembered, not to an ancestor of long ago. Some of these must have been older women. The busts could have been transported from house to tomb or chapel where identification, if desired, could be supplied by the inscribed stelae, offering tables, or naos-shrine. As the "3h ikr", they carry on the traditions associated with 3h since the Old Kingdom, especially in the requirement for feeding and i its function as the 3h-statue resting within the 3ht-shrine (Friedman, p. 97). The ancestor busts are mentioned in the Book of the Dead under spell 151, "the spell of the head of mysteries". It reads: " hail to you whose face is kindly...your head will never be taken away". Similar objects have been found at fourteen other sites from the central Delta to the Third Cataract. They were found in or near houses as well as in tombs and temples. Whether the context was domestic or religious we cannot be sure, but it is understood that for the worshiper the ancestor busts conjured up memories of a deceased relative. Ancestor bust-shaped amulets occur as jewelry during the New Kingdom. |
UC14228
From Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty, (1186BC-1069BC)
Limestone with traces of pigment
The funerary stela belonged to Thutmose. He is
depicted on the left side, seated on a chair and
holding a lotus to his nose. He faces his brother who
stands opposite him and pours a libation with his right
hand. In his left hand he holds a censer. The brother
is named as "the scribe Pairy of the Place of Truth".
They are both likely to be members of the Deir el-
Medina workforce.
At the top of the stela there is a lunette, broken
away on both sides. Wedjat eyes, one now missing,
used to flank the horizon above the inscription.
Height: 22.4 cm
Width: 13.3 cm
From Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty, (1186BC-1069BC)
Limestone with traces of pigment
The funerary stela belonged to Thutmose. He is
depicted on the left side, seated on a chair and
holding a lotus to his nose. He faces his brother who
stands opposite him and pours a libation with his right
hand. In his left hand he holds a censer. The brother
is named as "the scribe Pairy of the Place of Truth".
They are both likely to be members of the Deir el-
Medina workforce.
At the top of the stela there is a lunette, broken
away on both sides. Wedjat eyes, one now missing,
used to flank the horizon above the inscription.
Height: 22.4 cm
Width: 13.3 cm
| There are 6 vertical columns of hieroglyphic inscription above the two men. Thutmose is identified as "3h ikr n R'", "the able spirit of Ra". The akh-spirits were the blessed dead, those who had attained a seat in the sun-bark of the god Ra. Their magical powers protected them from the dangers of the afterlife. They could also use them for or against the dead and the living. To become an akh (plural akhu) one had to know the magic spells, perform funerary rites and have the gods, especially Ra, intervene on one's behalf. Over 50 stelae from Deir el-Medina testify to the existence of household cults devoted to deceased relatives who had become akhu. The spirits could be dangerous if offended, and the offerings to the akhu were both propitiatory and reverential. |
UC16551
From Deir el-Medina
18th dynasty, (1550 BC-1292
BC)
White limestone with traces
of painting (red pectoral and
mentat etc). Originally the
bust would have had a brightly
painted floral collar on the
chest, symbolising rebirth and
the collars offered by the
living at the "Beautiful Feast
of the Valley", when they
visited the tombs of their
ancestors.
The lower corner of the
"oracular bust" is damaged.
Height: 20 cm
Width: 10 cm
From Deir el-Medina
18th dynasty, (1550 BC-1292
BC)
White limestone with traces
of painting (red pectoral and
mentat etc). Originally the
bust would have had a brightly
painted floral collar on the
chest, symbolising rebirth and
the collars offered by the
living at the "Beautiful Feast
of the Valley", when they
visited the tombs of their
ancestors.
The lower corner of the
"oracular bust" is damaged.
Height: 20 cm
Width: 10 cm