DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4860#0069
The
procession
Apy's house
TWO RAMESSIDE TOMBS
ranged before the resting place of the coffin, and is now carried to the
tomb in front of the convoy. In the former position are shown a scribe's
case,1 two backed chairs, two chests, two folding stools, two ceremonial
vases on a cushioned stool, two pairs of sandals,2 a bed, a head-rest, and
two fly-whisks. Farther on, a bed is being carried by one Any (perhaps
the sculptor, son of Apy) behind a group of male relatives, and staves,
two chests, and a chair, in front of them.
Is the picture of Apy's house in the middle register to be connected
with that on Plate XIII, as the home to which he returns in pride from
the king's presence, or with the scene of funeral, when his establishment
would be in preparation for the accompanying feast? It is possible
that the artist himself was not clear on the point, being only intent on
a charming presentation which could be justified on either ground. The
house being shown, the various domestic activities involved when either
a feast or a funeral was in prospect are naturally attached to it. On the
right a small part of the slaughterhouse is preserved, and very likely
the cutting up of an animal was depicted outside it. Curious joints
and entrails (the modern Arab, too, leaves nothing uneaten, save the
horns, hoofs, and skin of the beast) are hung from the rafters, and the
servant in charge is weighing out meat to a recipient, using, as it seems,
a hand-balance for the purpose.3 We must not think of a shop; free
trading would have small place in a state of society where metal was
only used in large transactions and coin was not yet invented. But we
can imagine that the rations issued to each member of the household
were as strictly apportioned as wages are now, and as was the case in
the administration of the palace.4 What we see here, then, may be
assumed to be the reception by the serfs of their allotted portion.5
1 This perhaps ought to be a casket-like "boite a oushabtis," as the eyewitness reports; but see PI. XXXVI.
2For sandals in two such aspects, see Theban Tombs Series, III, p. n, n. 2.
3 For such balances, see Klebs, Reliefs des alien Reiches, p. 84; Petrie, Deshasheh, PI. XIII; Perrot-
Chipiez, Histoire de VArt, I, p. 32; and Daressy, Revue archeologique, igo5, PI. XV.
4 See Scharffin A.Z., 57, p. 5i.
5 Butchers' booths are shown in connection with a feast in Tomb 112; with cooking activities in
Tombs g3, 3i8, and that of Rameses III (Wreszinski, Atlas, Sheet 93); with a house in Tomb 254; and with
the provision of funeral gifts in Tomb 60. Such pictures are exact reflections of Middle Kingdom models in
wood: see Winlock in Bulletin of M.M.A., Dec. 1920, Part II, p. 20.
5o
procession
Apy's house
TWO RAMESSIDE TOMBS
ranged before the resting place of the coffin, and is now carried to the
tomb in front of the convoy. In the former position are shown a scribe's
case,1 two backed chairs, two chests, two folding stools, two ceremonial
vases on a cushioned stool, two pairs of sandals,2 a bed, a head-rest, and
two fly-whisks. Farther on, a bed is being carried by one Any (perhaps
the sculptor, son of Apy) behind a group of male relatives, and staves,
two chests, and a chair, in front of them.
Is the picture of Apy's house in the middle register to be connected
with that on Plate XIII, as the home to which he returns in pride from
the king's presence, or with the scene of funeral, when his establishment
would be in preparation for the accompanying feast? It is possible
that the artist himself was not clear on the point, being only intent on
a charming presentation which could be justified on either ground. The
house being shown, the various domestic activities involved when either
a feast or a funeral was in prospect are naturally attached to it. On the
right a small part of the slaughterhouse is preserved, and very likely
the cutting up of an animal was depicted outside it. Curious joints
and entrails (the modern Arab, too, leaves nothing uneaten, save the
horns, hoofs, and skin of the beast) are hung from the rafters, and the
servant in charge is weighing out meat to a recipient, using, as it seems,
a hand-balance for the purpose.3 We must not think of a shop; free
trading would have small place in a state of society where metal was
only used in large transactions and coin was not yet invented. But we
can imagine that the rations issued to each member of the household
were as strictly apportioned as wages are now, and as was the case in
the administration of the palace.4 What we see here, then, may be
assumed to be the reception by the serfs of their allotted portion.5
1 This perhaps ought to be a casket-like "boite a oushabtis," as the eyewitness reports; but see PI. XXXVI.
2For sandals in two such aspects, see Theban Tombs Series, III, p. n, n. 2.
3 For such balances, see Klebs, Reliefs des alien Reiches, p. 84; Petrie, Deshasheh, PI. XIII; Perrot-
Chipiez, Histoire de VArt, I, p. 32; and Daressy, Revue archeologique, igo5, PI. XV.
4 See Scharffin A.Z., 57, p. 5i.
5 Butchers' booths are shown in connection with a feast in Tomb 112; with cooking activities in
Tombs g3, 3i8, and that of Rameses III (Wreszinski, Atlas, Sheet 93); with a house in Tomb 254; and with
the provision of funeral gifts in Tomb 60. Such pictures are exact reflections of Middle Kingdom models in
wood: see Winlock in Bulletin of M.M.A., Dec. 1920, Part II, p. 20.
5o