DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4858#0074
ITS OWNER
made clear here by an emblematic sycamore upon her head.1 She The stela
described
holds in her hand a simple repast of bread and onions, beer and grapes,
and that triple stem of papyrus which is as much a symbol of verdure
and prosperity as a floral decoration. The whole forms a colored
composition of considerable beauty.
Of the side panels, where gifts are tendered, the topmost show The side
panels
the presentation of rations like those just noticed and of a jug of beer,
and are labeled respectively "Giving to the scribe Nakht the offerings
of a god," and "Presenting beer to the scribe Nakht." The figures
in the middle row bring cups, "The gift of a cup of water to the
spirit (ka) of the Osiris, the serving-priest [of Amon], the scribe Nakht,
maakheru; thou art pure (as) Horus is pure," and "The gift of a cup of
wine to the Osiris, the serving-priest of Amon, the scribe Nakht.
Thou art pure as Set is pure."2 The donors in the lowest row present
an unguent, powders, and cloth. "Giving the scribe Nakht, maakheru,
cosmetic and green and black powders," and "Giving cloth to the
Osiris, the scribe Nakht."
The stela is painted to represent rose-granite and the hieroglyphs
are in the green color which would be used on that stone. It is of
the usual shape with a double outer and inner framing and a panel
above the doorway representing Nakht and his wife sitting at table.3
Over the entrance is a device which is commonly seen at the summit
of stelae, accompanied frequently by figures of the dog Anubis. Here
it consists of the watchful eyes of the sun-god with appropriate sym-
bolic signs between them.4
irThis device is made use of also in the neighboring tomb of Woserhte (No. 5i).
2 Horus and Set (or, better, Setekh) were still, to tradition, the two deities who shared the supremacy of
Egypt or to whose rival claims the suppliant prudently assumed an impartial attitude.
3 This scene and its inscriptions are now scarcely visible. When first discovered they were read
ST^TTM m VI °I^S-T^OSTXetc-(MasPero'P-Randan early photo-
graph by Beato). "All manner of things that appear on the altars of the Lords of Eternity as daily dues
(be) for the ka of..........Nakht." The Egyptian desired to fare in death as Osiris himself, even to the
lavish variety of the daily offerings, which seem to have been actually carried from the altars of the gods to
those of their dead followers.
4 This recurring group comprises (i) The Shen sign, which typifies the endless circuit of the sun and
may stand here for the winged disk itself. (2) The bowl, which is a New Kingdom addition. (3) The water,
47
made clear here by an emblematic sycamore upon her head.1 She The stela
described
holds in her hand a simple repast of bread and onions, beer and grapes,
and that triple stem of papyrus which is as much a symbol of verdure
and prosperity as a floral decoration. The whole forms a colored
composition of considerable beauty.
Of the side panels, where gifts are tendered, the topmost show The side
panels
the presentation of rations like those just noticed and of a jug of beer,
and are labeled respectively "Giving to the scribe Nakht the offerings
of a god," and "Presenting beer to the scribe Nakht." The figures
in the middle row bring cups, "The gift of a cup of water to the
spirit (ka) of the Osiris, the serving-priest [of Amon], the scribe Nakht,
maakheru; thou art pure (as) Horus is pure," and "The gift of a cup of
wine to the Osiris, the serving-priest of Amon, the scribe Nakht.
Thou art pure as Set is pure."2 The donors in the lowest row present
an unguent, powders, and cloth. "Giving the scribe Nakht, maakheru,
cosmetic and green and black powders," and "Giving cloth to the
Osiris, the scribe Nakht."
The stela is painted to represent rose-granite and the hieroglyphs
are in the green color which would be used on that stone. It is of
the usual shape with a double outer and inner framing and a panel
above the doorway representing Nakht and his wife sitting at table.3
Over the entrance is a device which is commonly seen at the summit
of stelae, accompanied frequently by figures of the dog Anubis. Here
it consists of the watchful eyes of the sun-god with appropriate sym-
bolic signs between them.4
irThis device is made use of also in the neighboring tomb of Woserhte (No. 5i).
2 Horus and Set (or, better, Setekh) were still, to tradition, the two deities who shared the supremacy of
Egypt or to whose rival claims the suppliant prudently assumed an impartial attitude.
3 This scene and its inscriptions are now scarcely visible. When first discovered they were read
ST^TTM m VI °I^S-T^OSTXetc-(MasPero'P-Randan early photo-
graph by Beato). "All manner of things that appear on the altars of the Lords of Eternity as daily dues
(be) for the ka of..........Nakht." The Egyptian desired to fare in death as Osiris himself, even to the
lavish variety of the daily offerings, which seem to have been actually carried from the altars of the gods to
those of their dead followers.
4 This recurring group comprises (i) The Shen sign, which typifies the endless circuit of the sun and
may stand here for the winged disk itself. (2) The bowl, which is a New Kingdom addition. (3) The water,
47