Limestone

Relief of the goddess Maat

A fragment of a low relief depicting the upper part of an image of the goddess Maat wearing ostrich feather of truth, a tripartite wig, a wide usekh collar, bracelets, and a tunic supported by shoulder-straps. Her head is surmounted by her emblem, a feather, the symbol of truth and justice. Maat was the symbol...

Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmose’s Cat Ta-Miu

Sarcophagus of Prince Thutmose’s Cat Ta Miu

Prince Thutmose is best remembered for the limestone sarcophagus of his beloved cat, Ta-miu (she-cat). The body of this sarcophagus is completely decorated with scenes, while the lid is inscribed with hieroglyphs. It shows the cat sitting before an offering table heaped with goodies for the afterlife. It seems that her owner, Crown Prince Thutmose,...

Statue of Kaemked

Kneeling Statue of Kaemked

The statue depicts Urini’s funerary priest, Kaemked kneeling in a position of worship, clasping his hands on his knees, wearing a short kilt, tied with a belt. This is one of many statues found in the tomb of the Treasurer Urini at Saqqara. A copper frame emphasizes his eyes, while his pupils are inlaid with...

Plaque of a Woman Giving Birth. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 40627

Pregnancy and Childbirth

As with many aspects of Egyptian life, childbirth was regarded not only as a biological event, but as one deeply embedded within the realms of magic, religion, and the divine. One of the most intriguing aspects of Egyptian pregnancy practices is the use of a primitive yet surprisingly insightful pregnancy test, recorded in the Papyrus...

The Meidum Geese

Meidum Geese

This part of a wall painting of geese was found in the Mastaba of Nefermaat and his wife, Itet, at Meidum where it decorated the lower part of one of the walls in the passage leading to Itet’s chapel. The colors used here derived from natural materials: white from limestone, red from hematite and green...