Model of a Slaughter House
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
Medium
Wood, paint, plaster
Dimensions
L. 76.8 cm (30 1/4 in.); W. 58.5 cm (23 1/16 in.); greatest H. 58.5 cm (23 1/16 in.)
Classification
Model, Butcher, Meketre, slaughter, cows, cattle
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1920
Accession Number
20.3.10
Tags
Art Historical Context
This wooden model of a slaughterhouse, created during Egypt’s Middle Kingdom under Dynasty 12, comes from the tomb of the chancellor Meketre. Such models were buried with the deceased to magically supply food and provisions in the afterlife, ensuring the tomb owner’s continued well-being. The miniature scene captures the bustling activity of a cattle-processing yard, complete with figures of men and animals rendered in painted wood and plaster. Measuring roughly 77 centimeters long, the model offers a vivid snapshot of daily life and economic organization in ancient Egypt. Its careful constru...