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Harbor Scene

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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

This highly detailed relief seems to represent the presentation of an important prisoner and his property to a general. An officer leads the bound captive by a rope tied around his neck and presents him to the unseen commander. To indicate his high rank, the commander was represented on a much larger scale than the other figures in the scene. Note the traces of his staff in the lower left corner.

MEDIUM Limestone
  • Possible Place Collected: Saqqara, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1336-1295 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 11 15/16 x 16 1/8 x 1 7/16 in. (30.4 x 41 x 3.7 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 48.112
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Fragment of limestone tomb relief. At right in raised relief two small boats, one of which is being unloaded by two men (the one at right possibly a hunchback). Two naked boys at play, one on boat, the other in water (?). Remains of another boat above this scene. On the second boat an Egyptian leads off to the left a bound prisoner whom he probably was presenting to an official. Figure of the Egyptian seemingly unfinished and is in both raised and sunk relief. Incomplete, incised inscription at left center. In lower left, the rigging (?) of another ship. Condition: Lower left corner broken off. Stone in sound condition. No remains of paint.
    CAPTION Harbor Scene, ca. 1336-1295 B.C.E. Limestone, 11 15/16 x 16 1/8 x 1 7/16 in. (30.4 x 41 x 3.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.112. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 48.112_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 48.112_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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