Wooden tomb model

A string of various animals are led past a stage where several people count and record the animals as they pass.
Model showing Meketre overseeing the counting of his cattle.

Wooden tomb models were deposited as grave goods in the tombs and burial shafts throughout early Egyptian History, most notably in the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. They included a wide variety of wooden figurines and scenes, such as boats, granaries, baking and brewing scenes and butchery scenes. These served as ways to preserve the action depicted for eternity in honor of the dead.[1] The use of wood rather than other materials became popular in the first intermediate period.[2] Over time the models of boats in particular went from life size to much smaller scale though they remained numerous, some boats being less than a meter in length and fleets at times being larger than 50 models. The 11th dynasty appears to be when there is a shift from making these burial boats river worthy to making them stand nicely for funerary display.[3]

The number of models of scenes and boats increased as the periods changed and the types of figures in tombs shifted from people giving offering to scenes of daily life. This culminates in the Middle Kingdom where tombs could have over thirty scenes depicted, over fifty boats and only a dozen or so people giving offering. Compared to tombs in Giza that may have only twenty models with servants depicted.[4]

Predynastic, Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom

Wooden model of men bent over with a hoe.
Example of a wooden funerary model that was found in the tomb of Tjeteti. The subject of the statue is believed to be a servant which is in line with other types of models of life at this time. This example comes from the 6th dynasty.[5]

Pottery and ivory models from the Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods are rare, but have been found to include similar items and scenes to the later models such as granaries.[6][7] Stone miniature containers were developed at this time and use for ritual purposes with an introduction of copper containers in the 6th Dynasty however, pottery remained popular. These types of jars would also go on to inspire wooden models of stone containers in the Middle Kingdom.[8]

During the Old Kingdom, limestone models of single figures taking part in a variety of daily life activities such as farming, food preparation, brewing, animal butchering, and entertainment were produced. Wooden boat models also had become popular and have been found in elite burials.[6][7][9] The funerary boats of the Old Kingdom were often life size or at times oversized, believed to be part of the funerary precession a mummy would take or an offering to the deceased.[3] Boats of the predynastic period were modeled after boats used in swamps, while the Old Kingdom brought the introduction of square shaped river boats.[10] The models are often buried outside of the tomb, in the serdab, or in statue niches within the tomb.[11] towards the end of the 5th Dynasty was when the first wooden models came into production, though often alongside stone pieces. These wooden models were smaller than those of later periods and less decorative in style.[12] An example of this type of model can be seen to the right. Following the reign of Pepi II, such models are increasingly found in elite burials and in greater numbers.[6]

First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom

The First Intermediate Period models usually consisted of two or more human figures attached to a base in a scene.[13] These scenes can depict a variety of tasks including food production, crafting and other modes of specialized work though boats remained popular through this period as well.[14] Boats of this period continued to diversify with the introduction of a new type of curved river boat, as well as boats that modeled ceremonial boats relating to solar worship and funerary practices.[10] Boats would often come in pairs representing the trips north and south that a body would take before reaching its final resting place.[15]

Most funerary models that survive today are from the Middle Kingdom, where not only the number of models increased but the variety of the models and what they depicted increased as well. These models could be found in many areas of the burial such as the tomb chapel, floor niches and shafts, or in the burial chamber, a good example of this variety can be seen in the tomb of Nakhti at Asyut.[11] Models found in the burial chamber were orientated to the cardinal directions and coffin, and could be found both on top of the coffin and on the floor beside it. Most of the models are three-dimensional representations of common scenes that are found on tomb chapel walls. For example, granaries are found depicted on southern walls of Old Kingdom tomb chambers and as well as on the foot ends of Middle Kingdom coffins.[16] Examples of the variety of models that can be found from these periods can be seen in the slideshow below.

  • Four people walking in line, the rightmost two are male. The one on the farthest right carries a vase of alcohol and incense, the next man carries a pile of folded linens one of which is red while the others are white. The females carry square baskets of different types of bread and one of them also has another vase of alcohol.
    A procession of offerings found in the tomb of Meketre in the 12th dynasty. The people depicted are believed to possibly be his children carrying these goods to his tomb.[17]
  • Top down view of a building where the right half of the building depicts four oxen eating from a manger. The left side of the model depicts two workers feeding two cattle from a pile of grain that sits between the workers. Near the open door an overseer sits with a baton.
    Another model from the tomb of Meketre. This model depicts the practice of fattening up cattle before slaughter. In this model two workers are feeding the animals, one of which is too fat to stand, all of this is being watched by an overseer who is holding a baton.[18]
  • Top down view of a building cut into thirds, the building has peaked corners. The rightmost section contains many people holding various writing implements as the grain is counted. The right two sections have several workers standing on a beam across the top of them dumping grain into the areas below for storage.
    Another model from the tomb of Meketre, depicting a granary. This model contains several workers counting the grain as others pour grain into the storage areas. The accountants write on scrolls of papyrus and wooden writing boards. The corners of the building are peaked which is believed to prevent rodent infestation and discourage thieves.[19]
  • Model of a green paddle boat where many workers would paddle the boat along the water. A man stands on the bow of the ship and a model of the deceased is seated and accompanied by another person.
    One of many boats found in the tomb of Meketre, this paddle boat depicts a religious ceremony. In this ceremony a statue of the deceased would be taken on boat to Abydos to the temple of Osiris. This became a more common practice from the Middle Kingdom onward.[20]
  • Model boat that consists of male and female figures manning the activities. The females assist in the storage and preparation of caught animals while several male figures appear to be harpooning prey.
    Another boat from the tomb of Meketre, this boat is believed to depict a fishing scene. A series of men assist in harpooning fish while others handle things that have already been caught.[21]
  • Man holding a yoked plow behind two cows. The cows appear to be yoked together and assisting the man in plowing. In the background a rectangular model of a sandstone building possibly a home is present.
    The exact dating for this model is unknown it is believed to have possibly been from the First Intermediate Period or the Middle Kingdom. The model consists of a farming scene.[22]

Some of the best known are the twenty-four wooden models that come from the tomb of Meketre (TT280), which are now found in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.[23] The largest collection of models were found in Tomb 10A of Djehutynakht and his wife, also called Djehutynakht, at Dayr al-Barshā by the 1915 the Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts excavation which included "some 58 model boats and nearly three dozen models of daily life."[24] These models are now at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.[25]

Late Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom

Boat model from the tomb of Tutankhamun

During the reign of Senusret III, the use of wooden models in tombs declines and are no longer found.[14] However, frequently included in discussions of Middle Kingdom models are several model boats have been found in New Kingdom royal burials, most notably the burial of Tutankhamun.[26] Tutankhamun's flotilla included thirty-five boats.[26] Other notable New Kingdom models are the boats of Queen Aahotep at Dra Abu el-Naga which includes one made of gold with silver figures and another made entirely of silver.[27]

References

  1. ^ Biase-Dyson, Camilla Di (2022-12-21). "Building Ideas out of Wood. What Ancient Egyptian Funerary 'Models' Tell Us about Thought and Communication". Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 33 (3): 413–429. doi:10.1017/S0959774322000385. ISSN 0959-7743.
  2. ^ "Model of a funerary boat". Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. ^ a b Florek, Stan; Bleechmore, Heather; Jones, Jana; McGregor, Colin; Pogson, R. E.; Specht, Jim (2021-09-22). "Egyptian funerary boat model in the Australian Museum: dating and analysis". Records of the Australian Museum. 73 (2): 67–85. doi:10.3853/j.2201-4349.73.2021.1738. ISSN 0067-1975.
  4. ^ "Egypt: The Ancient Egyptians as Model Builders". www.touregypt.net. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  5. ^ "Statue of man hoeing from tomb of Tjeteti | Old Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  6. ^ a b c Tooley, Angela M. J. "Models." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0195102347. OCLC 163459051.
  7. ^ a b Tooley, Angela M. J. (1995). Egyptian models and scenes. Princes Risborough: Shire. p. 16. ISBN 0-7478-0285-8. OCLC 33360271.
  8. ^ Bárta, Miroslav (2006). The Old Kingdom art and archaeology : proceedings of the conference held in Prague, May 31-June 4, 2004. Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. OCLC 704483073.
  9. ^ Taylor, John H. (2001). Death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 99–107. ISBN 0-226-79163-7. OCLC 45195698.
  10. ^ a b Reisner, George Andrew; Egypt. Maslahat al-Athar (1913). Models of ships and boats. Institute of Fine Arts Library New York University. Le Caire : Impr. de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale.
  11. ^ a b Tooley, Angela M. J. (1995). Egyptian models and scenes. Princes Risborough: Shire. pp. 13–14. ISBN 0-7478-0285-8. OCLC 33360271.
  12. ^ "Statue of man hoeing from tomb of Tjeteti | Old Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  13. ^ Tooley, Angela M. J. "Models." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0195102347. OCLC 163459051.
  14. ^ a b Grajetzki, Wolfram (2003). Burial Customs in Ancient Egypt : Life in Death for Rich and Poor. London. ISBN 0-7156-3217-5. OCLC 51738396.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ "The secrets of Tomb 10A : Egypt 2000 BC | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  16. ^ Willems, Harco (1988). Chests of life : a study of the typology and conceptual development of Middle Kingdom standard class coffins. Leiden: Ex Oriente Lux. ISBN 90-72690-01-X. OCLC 20343577.
  17. ^ "Model of a procession of offering bearers | Middle Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  18. ^ "Model Cattle stable from the tomb of Meketre | Middle Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  19. ^ "Model of a Granary with Scribes | Middle Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
  20. ^ "Model Paddling Boat | Middle Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  21. ^ "Model Sporting Boat | Middle Kingdom". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  22. ^ modèle, 2023-02-09, retrieved 2023-03-13
  23. ^ "Model Bakery and Brewery from the Tomb of Meketre". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  24. ^ "The Secrets of Tomb 10A". Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  25. ^ The secrets of Tomb 10A : Egypt 2000 BC. Rita E. Freed, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Boston: MFA Publications. 2009. pp. 151–179. ISBN 978-0-87846-747-1. OCLC 449186077.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  26. ^ a b Jones, Dilwyn (1990). Model boats from the tomb of Tutʻankhamūn. Oxford: Griffith Institute. ISBN 0-900416-49-1. OCLC 23582589.
  27. ^ Tooley, Angela M. J. (1995). Egyptian models and scenes. Princes Risborough: Shire. pp. 55–56. ISBN 0-7478-0285-8. OCLC 33360271.

Further reading

  • Jones, Dilwyn (1990). Model boats from the tomb of Tutʻankhamūn. Oxford: Griffith Institute. ISBN 0-900416-49-1. OCLC 23582589.
  • Reisner, George Andrew (1913). Models of ships and boats. Le Caire: l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale
  • Tooley, Angela M. J. "Models." In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0195102347. OCLC 163459051.
  • Tooley, Angela M. J. (1995). Egyptian models and scenes. Princes Risborough: Shire. ISBN 0-7478-0285-8.
  • Digital Egypt - Wooden Models
  • Examination of Wooden Tomb Models - Penn Museum
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