Polychrome Limestone Relief Fragment

Sakkara
26th Dynasty, Period of Psamtik I
664 – 610 B.C
H: 42.9 cm W: 49.3 cm

This fragment is an exceptionally rare and extremely important piece from the east Step of a Pyramid tomb of Bakenrenef at Saqqara. Bakenrenef held an important position as the Vizier of Pharaoh Psamtik I 664-610 B.C, therefore had an elaborate tomb dedicated to his expectant passing to the afterlife. Bakenrenef’s tomb was discovered in 1827 by a man called Defterdar Bey and was recorded by the German Egyptologist Karl Richard.

The quality of the relief’s were so impressive they were cut from the walls and given to a number of major collections. Such fragments like this one can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is inscribed in sunken relief and brightly painted, attesting to the period it comes from in which artisans were deliberately copying earlier styles of hieroglyphics and sculpture.

The inscription of this piece reads downwards from right to left, in four vertical columns, their words being cut off at the top and bottom therefore making it difficult for a complete translation. The outer column with the seated man determinative, reads ‘…I floursh…’; the column second to the right reads ‘..in your nostrils I am…’; third column from the right ‘…sniff the breezes in…’; and the fourth column from right reads, ‘…water given to him as…’. . The text comes from spells from the Book of the Dead for the well being of the deceased in the Afterworld of Kherneter where those who have successfully passed through the Hall of Judgement.

It is the sharp colours and elegant proportions that help make this a simply stunning example of Egyptian Art.