<em>Coffin Texts from the Tomb of Harhotep</em>, ca. 2008–1630 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 39 x 3 7/8 x 20 3/4 in. (99.1 x 9.9 x 52.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1507E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1507E_NegA_acetate_SL1.jpg)

Coffin Texts from the Tomb of Harhotep, ca. 2008–1630 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 39 x 3 7/8 x 20 3/4 in. (99.1 x 9.9 x 52.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1507E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1507E_NegA_acetate_SL1.jpg)

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Are these from tombs?

These works come from two different tombs from Egypt's Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom was a very important time in ancient Egyptian art, as it represents a high point for artistic production, and it was the first time Egypt was reunified, a strong narrative point.

The lower reliefs, showing two servants, come from the Tomb of Queen Neferu, the wife of Mentuhotep II who reunified Egypt and founded the Middle Kingdom. These reliefs would have served an important role in the tomb, as they represented offerings one would give to the deceased.

Are these hieroglyphs?

Similar! This is Hieratic, a cursive form of hieroglyphs. This text comes from the wall of the tomb of a man named Harhotep. Like most of the texts found in ancient Egyptian tombs this was designed to help him on his journey to the afterlife.

I'm particularly interested the relationship between ancient Egyptian art and Egyptomania in the 19th century, do you have some information?

Most of our Egyptian collection came to the United States in the 19th century, so it was part of that flush of early archaeological activity and the resulting fashion of Egyptomania. While hieroglyphs were part of the trends seen in Egypt-fascination of the time, many were focused on flashier examples related to the afterlife (which we have on view in the Mummy Chamber, for example).

Is there any American Art showing Egyptian symbols?

We have several examples of Egyptomania in the decorative arts on view on the 4th floor, from English and American designers. We have some American paintings that feature Orientalist material, but that's more focused on the modern-day region than antiquity. (Well, modern-day to the late 19th century artists like Chase.)

Many artists and designers who were working in Egypt-inspired styles in the 19th century took motifs and popular aspects of the ancient material known at the time and turned them into a more "revival" style without deep knowledge of their meaning.

Ah, I see, so it was entirely an aestheticist movement?

Yes, in fact 19th century Egyptomania was part of a broader movement known as Aestheticism. This movement, largely in the USA and England, incorporated decorative imagery from "exotic" cultures such as Egypt, India and Japan.

Part of the interest in Egypt was driven by Napoleon III in France, who was emulating the Egyptian fashions that had prevailed under Napoleon I. This was almost entirely separate from scholarly activity surrounding the collecting and deciphering of Ancient Egyptian works.

What is this language called? Did they usually write top to bottom?

This is a cursive form of hieroglyphs called hieratic used to write the ancient Egyptian language. While they can be written in any direction, depending on space constraints and stylistic convention, they are usually written right to left.

Thank you.

Coffin Texts from the Tomb of Harhotep

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

Egyptians believed that placing certain funerary texts close to the body could help the spirit of the deceased continue his or her existence in the afterlife. Originally these texts were used exclusively in the pyramids of kings and queens, but in the Middle Kingdom they were adapted for use in the tombs of non-royal individuals. Inscribed primarily on coffin interiors, they became known as Coffin Texts. While Coffin Texts occur mostly on wooden coffins, here they are found on a limestone wall.

MEDIUM Limestone, pigment

Place Made: Egypt

DATES ca. 2008–1630 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 11

PERIOD Middle Kingdom

DIMENSIONS 39 x 3 7/8 x 20 3/4 in. (99.1 x 9.9 x 52.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1507E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION A block from tomb of Harhotep, whose sarcophagus chamber from Thebes in now in the Cairo Museum. End wall of a small sarcophagus chamber. Large block of limestone squared on the bottom and ends, the top slightly rounded: one side roughly hewn, the other with a smooth, stuccoed surface, painted with brightly colored checked borders along both sides, and the space between nearly filled with hieroglyphic texts in fine writing in columns. .Texts consist of chapters from Book of the Dead. Colors: In squares of border red at top, yellow at bottom, betw. green (?). ((-the Cairo Museum Horhotep is a different individual. The text on this block are Coffin Texts - YB 2015)) Condition: Lower part of the stone blackened so that end of each line is illegible. Back roughly dressed and uneven. Side edges not complete – broken roughly but not much lost for front with block of inscription and side borders is nearly complete.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Coffin Texts from the Tomb of Harhotep, ca. 2008–1630 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 39 x 3 7/8 x 20 3/4 in. (99.1 x 9.9 x 52.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1507E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1507E_NegA_acetate_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 37.1507E_NegA_acetate_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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