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Doorjamb of Thaasetimu

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Painted raised relief was the normal mode of decoration on the inside of Egyptian tombs and temples. Here a tomb owner is shown in the embrace of the goddess Semset, a hippopotamus deity associated with the twelfth month of the year and with Renenutet and Taweret as a female divinity who intervenes on the occasion of birth. Some details in the text indicate that the "birth" at which she is present here is the rebirth of the owner in his tomb. The relief carving is of extremely high quality, but the painter seems to have been quite independent-minded, disregarding the contour lines when he detailed the costume.

MEDIUM Limestone
  • Place Found: Memphis, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 381-362 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 30
    PERIOD Late Period
    DIMENSIONS 49 15/16 x 13 11/16 x 7 in., 250 lb. (126.8 x 34.7 x 17.8 cm, 113.4kg)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 56.152
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Limestone door-jamb from the tomb of the overseer of the gate-house (a judicial title) Ahmes-sa-Neith decorated on two faces. Obverse (exterior), in sunk relief, standing representation of owner facing spectator's left supporting long staff with right hand, shaved head, seal ring on left hand, long robe with elbow-length sleeves; above, four columns of inscription; at right, torus moulding with scant remains of pain. Reverse (interior), in raised relief and painted, standing figure of owner embraced by Renenut; above, five short columns of hieroglyphs in relief surmounted by painted sky sign, above which are two large-scale lines of relief inscription.
    CAPTION Doorjamb of Thaasetimu, ca. 381-362 B.C.E. Limestone, 49 15/16 x 13 11/16 x 7 in., 250 lb. (126.8 x 34.7 x 17.8 cm, 113.4kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 56.152. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.152_side1_PS4.jpg)
    IMAGE side, 56.152_side1_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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