Inherkhau & his family

Inherkhau was the ‘Foreman of the Lord of the Two Lands in the Place of Truth’ during the reigns of Ramesses III and Ramesses IV, c. 1186–1149 B.C.

In this scene, depicted upon one of the walls of his tomb (TT359), we behold Inherkhau seated alongside his wife and four children, receiving offerings in tribute. Among these are a small hand-held statue of Osiris and a naos (shrine) dedicated to the deity, accompanied by sacred vessels containing oils and libations.

Inherkhau and his wife are portrayed in their finest attire, draped in delicate, translucent Egyptian linens. He wears white sandals and sports a shoulder-length wig of plaited hair, cut diagonally, with a squared beard extending from his chin.

His wife’s hair, likely also a wig of finely plaited tresses, cascades over her shoulders, reaching the small of her back. She wears elegant white disc earrings, presumably crafted from ivory. They are both seated upon chairs with animal-shaped legs, positioned before an offering stand, which holds what appears to be a nourishing tribute of food in circular form.

Their hands, depicted in the graceful, flowing style characteristic of the 18th Dynasty Amarna Period, retaining the elongated fingers favoured in artistic conventions of the time despite shifting ideological trends. If we look closely, a tender moment is captured between Inherkhau and one of his daughters, as a single strand of her hair is delicately held between his thumb and forefinger.

The four children are rendered smaller in scale than their parents, with two appearing noticeably more diminutive. All are depicted nude, a customary artistic indication of youth. Their hairstyles feature a shaven head with a distinctive set of side tresses, a style long associated with childhood and known to Egyptologists as the ‘side-lock of youth’.

Three of the children wear simple, white hoop earrings, likely fashioned from ivory, and each is adorned with decorative collars, bracelets, and anklets. The two elder daughters are shown grasping a bird in one hand, with fledglings nestled in their free hands, an interesting detail that adds to the warmth and intimacy of the scene.