Subdued Enemies

Glazed faïence inlays from palace of Ramesses III, depicting subdued enemies of Egypt; Sub Saharan African and Assyrian men kneel. The decorative inlays are considered of significant historical and ethnographical interest, given the representation of neighbouring populations.

Tiles with coloured inlaid glazed faience were very popular for decorating the walls of palaces. In the palace of Ramesses III. In Tell el-Yahudiya, rows of depictions of various foreigners were found. Since the 19th Dynasty, the motif of the subdued enemy was very often found on temple walls. 

The body probably shows a Syrian. The man is dressed in a long dress made of white, pleated material with a wide border. A knee-length cape is wrapped over it. Both garments are decorated with stripes of cube and diamond patterns and plant ornaments.

Because of his skin color, the other kneeling man can be identified as black African. He wears a white dress and a colorfully patterned cloak over it.

New Kingdom, 20th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses III, c. 1198-1166 B.C.

From palace of Ramesses III, Tell el-Yahudiya, Leontopolis (Egyptian: Ney-ta-hut).

Now on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. INV 3897b, INV 3897d.