Ever seen an ancient meme? This limestone sketch (Musée du Louvre Museum. E 32954) from Deir el-Medina might just be one! Drawn over 3,000 years ago (c. 1295–1069 B.C.) by an artisan of the royal tomb-builders’ village depicts a cat standing upright, holding or offering a vase and a lotus flower to another seated cat,...
In 1290 B.C., Ramesses I, former general turned Pharaoh, was laid to rest in the Valley of the Kings, wrapped in linen and legacy. But centuries later, tomb robbers stirred, priests panicked, and the royal mummy was whisked away into hiding. Fast-forward to the 19th century, and his remains were quietly sold to curious foreigners and ended up, quite astonishingly, in a dusty glass case in Niagara Falls, Canada, labelled merely as an “Egyptian nobleman.”
The limestone ostracon (Musée du Louvre. E 14337) from Deir el-Medina, depicting a woman presenting a cup and vase before a figure holding a smoking bowl, likely represents a domestic or ritual offering scene. The woman’s pleated dress, perfume cone, and lotus flower suggest she is engaged in a ceremonial act, perhaps making an offering...
The story of the Ramesside family is one of remarkable social ascent, a lineage that began with distinguished military service and culminated in some of the most celebrated reigns in Ancient Egyptian history. Unlike many royal houses before them, the Ramessides did not inherit the throne through divine birthright or ancient bloodlines. Instead, they rose...
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....
Butehamun was a distinguished scribe who was born and raised in the Deir el-Medina region, and resided in Medinet Habu, living during the 29 year reign of Ramesses XI, he died in early stages of the Third Intermediate Period. Born into a lineage of scribes, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Thutmose, embracing...
Butehamun was a distinguished scribe who was born and raised in the Deir el-Medina region, and resided in Medinet Habu, living during the reign of Ramesses XI, he died in Third Intermediate Period. Born into a lineage of scribes, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Thutmose, embracing a life devoted to the written...
This ostracon is a remarkable piece of ancient Egyptian art, and it is often recognized for its portrayal of a young king, which provides a rare and valuable glimpse into royal iconography during the 20th Dynasty (around 1150 BC). Like many ostraca, this one is made of limestone, which was a common material used by...
This scene—featuring two cats and a mouse—likely portrays a lighthearted or symbolic interaction, showcasing how the Egyptians sometimes used humor or animal symbolism to comment on human life. A lady mouse is shown sitting elegantly, enjoying a cup of wine or drink, which is offered to her by one of the cats standing nearby. Another...
This bronze knife features a handle shaped like a papyrus plant, with a figure of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian god of mummification, seated atop it. The blade bears the name of the embalmer, Minmesout, inscribed in hieroglyphs. Such knives were essential tools in the mummification process, used by embalmers to perform the intricate procedures required...
