Inherkhau and son Kenna

This colourful fragment comes from the tomb of the foreman Inherkhau (TT359), at Deir el-Medina. Inherkhau held the title, “Foreman of the Lord of the Two Lands in the Place of Truth“, and worked under the reigns of king Ramesses III and Ramesses IV.

The piece shows Inherkhau alongside his son Kenna. Kenna is noticed as a youth not only by his smaller stature, but his hairstyle and pierced ear indicate his youthful age. Kenna smiles with his lined eye and side lock of youth accompanied by two strands of hair creating a fringe. Also accompanying the pair would be Kenna’s mother and Inherkau’s wife, Wab, but sadly she is missing from this damaged piece.

Inkherkhau is dressed in his finest of white linens, and a plaited wig which hangs over his elaborately decorated usekh collar.

If you look closely, beyond the damage near the face of Inkherkhau, you can see he has stubble along his jawline. It is rare for men to be depicted with such a natural beard, however, it has been seen in other pieces. Most notably was a fragmentary osctracon also from Deir el-Medina, depicting a king with a stubbled beard.