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Stele |
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Stele were slabs of stone or wood painted or inscribed with
religious texts. Stele were used in Egypt from early times, with
the earliest funerary examples dating to the first dynasty.
The Stele shown here are of both the wood and stone types,
and were placed in temples or tombs. in most cases they were messages
to the gods telling how devoted the donor was or asking for some
sort of blessing.
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This fragment of a Stele was excavated by the Scottish Egyptologist
A.H. Rhind during his time at Thebes and is now in the
N.M.S..
It shows Nimenkhamun making an offering to the falcon headed
god Re-Herakthy.
Nimenkhamun was 'a priestly official of the Divine Consort
Shepemwapet'. |
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These two Stele are made of wood covered with a thin plaster
called gesso. This was the same method of construction used for
many of the anthropoid coffins in
the N.M.S..
The two Stele from the late period show the house mistresses
Ankhesiset and Djedankhesiset worshiping the sun god. Note how
well the artist has captured the lightness of the ladies robes. |
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This Stele is constructed from limestone, which was then carved
and painted. It was found in the tomb of the Inspector of Priests
Ty.
On the table in front of Ty there are eight slices of bread,
with a wine jar and a calf's head below.
The bottom image again shows Ty, this time holding a staff
and baton. The inscription consists of a prayer to Osiris asking
for supplies. |
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