Stele of Ta-miu

This wooden stele would have been placed near the mummy of a married woman called Ta-miu whose name means ‘the cat’. She is given the title ‘Lady of the House’ which may mean is a married woman.

Ta-miu is the daughter of Ankh-Khonsu, Superintendent of the Temple of Amun. Both sides of the stele are painted and the edge of the stele is painted with two inscriptions beginning at the top and working down to the bottom ends. The left side inscription has a cartouche of King Takelot III.

On one side Ta-miu is shown worshipping the falcon-headed sun god Ra-Horakhty. Stretched out above them is the sky goddess Nut who swallows the sun every evening, and gives birth to the sun each morning.

Below this is a sun disc with two pendant uraei and sacred eyes on either side. Above the scene is an inscription in nine columns of hieroglyphic text in black on a yellow background. The other side is badly damaged and now difficult to see.

The deceased and a goddess on the right side adore a god wrapped in bandages on the left side, wearing a crown with feathers and ram horns, holding a was scepter together with the crook and flail. There are ten columns of hieroglyphic text which are very damaged with much surface loss.

Third Intermediate Period, 23rd Dynasty, reign of Takelot III. ca. 818-715 BC. Now in the World Museum, National Museums Liverpool. 24.11.81.7