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Fragment of Inscribed Door Lintel

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

This relief comes from the element above the door of a tomb. It depicts the deceased and his wife receiving drink and lotus offerings from a priest. The daily opening of the lotus flower was a symbol of rebirth for the Egyptians.
MEDIUM Sandstone, pigment
  • Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1292-1190 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 19
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 14 3/8 x 25 x 5 in. (36.5 x 63.5 x 12.7 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1502E
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; by 1852, acquired in Egypt by Henry Abbott; 1859, purchased by the New-York Historical Society, New York, NY; 1937, loaned from the New-York Historical Society to the Brooklyn Museum; September 1948, purchased from the New-York Historical Society by the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Before a man is an offering table which supports a tall-necked vase and flowers. Opposite the table is a man wearing a long skirt, and holding up before him a piece of meat. Above the table are two columns of hieroglyphic text. By the man’s head is text, and also by his stomach. On the molding are traces of lines in red paint. There are also traces of red paint. There are also traces of red paint on the human figures, some of the object and hieroglyphs. There is a plain border under the scene (4.2 cm in height). The garment bear traces of white paint. The preserved part of the bottom edge is smooth; the other ends are ragged. Condition: Only bottom of cavetto preserved; top of head of standing man missing; most of seated woman’s body missing; entire surface darkened.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Fragment of Inscribed Door Lintel, ca. 1292-1190 B.C.E. Sandstone, pigment, 14 3/8 x 25 x 5 in. (36.5 x 63.5 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1502E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1502E_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 37.1502E_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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