DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4862#0038
THE TOMB AND THE SITE
the two divine queens of Egypt—namely, a supply (prt r hrw) of nourish-
ment, food, offerings, millions1 of bread, beer, wine . . . and all manner
of things good, pleasant, and sweet (?) which [heaven] gives, [earth cre-
ates, and Nile brings, for the ka of . . . Puyemre]."
The only other relic which can with certainty be attributed to the
original burial possesses some interest. It is a shard from a pottery jar
which had been employed by the draughtsman who executed the work on
the front of the portico, as we should use the leaf of a note-book or a
scrap of paper. On it he had brought to his work a sketch of two of the
tableaux he wished to place there, that he might lay out the scene better
or keep in mind the accompanying inscription. A curious chance has pre-
served almost exactly the same portion of the shard and of the sculpture
which was executed from it.2 So far as we can judge, the sketch was
exactly followed by the sculptor, as the unusual word hwy.t in the inscrip-
tion shows. This stiff tablet was both cheaper and more handy than papy-
rus for the purpose, and not only shows us the simple draft from which
the artist worked, but brings us into living touch with the past. We see
the man transferring the sketch to the sandstone, and then idly casting
the superfluous shard away.
A similar employment may be suspected for a limestone flake,
which has, written in ink on one side, four columns beginning "Recita-
tive. Ho! . . . ," but getting no further, and on the reverse a scrap of
text, concerning which see Vol. II, p. (\l\, note. A third sketch, executed
in color on a fragment of limestone, of which half has been rescued,
was probably used too as a memorandum, perhaps for the colored banquet-
ing scene in relief on the inner side of the same screen (No. 9, Plate
LXXI, and Vol. II, p. 63); this part of the work was probably en-
trusted to less capable sculptors, who felt their need of these aids to
memory.
Another object which might belong to a legitimate interment, if
'"Thousands" had been the highest ideal of indefinite riches till now.
2 For the shard see PL LXXIX, and for the scenes, PI. LXXII, Nos. 44, 45. The latter fragment, the
only one left in situ, may not be connected with the picture, as it prevents the introduction of the false door
and leaves scant room for the second oar and the inscription.
i5
Fragments of
a statue
Sketches used
by the ancient
artist
Evidence of
refinement in
objects of
common use
the two divine queens of Egypt—namely, a supply (prt r hrw) of nourish-
ment, food, offerings, millions1 of bread, beer, wine . . . and all manner
of things good, pleasant, and sweet (?) which [heaven] gives, [earth cre-
ates, and Nile brings, for the ka of . . . Puyemre]."
The only other relic which can with certainty be attributed to the
original burial possesses some interest. It is a shard from a pottery jar
which had been employed by the draughtsman who executed the work on
the front of the portico, as we should use the leaf of a note-book or a
scrap of paper. On it he had brought to his work a sketch of two of the
tableaux he wished to place there, that he might lay out the scene better
or keep in mind the accompanying inscription. A curious chance has pre-
served almost exactly the same portion of the shard and of the sculpture
which was executed from it.2 So far as we can judge, the sketch was
exactly followed by the sculptor, as the unusual word hwy.t in the inscrip-
tion shows. This stiff tablet was both cheaper and more handy than papy-
rus for the purpose, and not only shows us the simple draft from which
the artist worked, but brings us into living touch with the past. We see
the man transferring the sketch to the sandstone, and then idly casting
the superfluous shard away.
A similar employment may be suspected for a limestone flake,
which has, written in ink on one side, four columns beginning "Recita-
tive. Ho! . . . ," but getting no further, and on the reverse a scrap of
text, concerning which see Vol. II, p. (\l\, note. A third sketch, executed
in color on a fragment of limestone, of which half has been rescued,
was probably used too as a memorandum, perhaps for the colored banquet-
ing scene in relief on the inner side of the same screen (No. 9, Plate
LXXI, and Vol. II, p. 63); this part of the work was probably en-
trusted to less capable sculptors, who felt their need of these aids to
memory.
Another object which might belong to a legitimate interment, if
'"Thousands" had been the highest ideal of indefinite riches till now.
2 For the shard see PL LXXIX, and for the scenes, PI. LXXII, Nos. 44, 45. The latter fragment, the
only one left in situ, may not be connected with the picture, as it prevents the introduction of the false door
and leaves scant room for the second oar and the inscription.
i5
Fragments of
a statue
Sketches used
by the ancient
artist
Evidence of
refinement in
objects of
common use