Plan for a temple garden
Unknown Artist
ca. 2030–1640 B.C.
Medium
Sandstone
Dimensions
L. 42 × W. 30.5 cm (16 9/16 × 12 in.)
Classification
Trial piece, temple garden plan (?)
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922
Accession Number
22.3.30a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the sunlit world of ancient Egypt with intriguing sandstone slab, a *Plan for a Temple Garden* from Egypt's Middle Kingdom, around 2030–1640 B.C. Crafted during Dynasty 11—an era of reunification and cultural revival under pharaohs like Mentuhotep II—this artifact is a rare architectural blueprint. Measuring a compact 42 × 30.5 cm, it likely served as a model or detailed sketch for designing sacred temple gardens, showcasing the Egyptians' meticulous planning for divine spaces. Carved in durable sandstone, a favored medium for its workability and longevity in Egypt's harsh climate, ...