Relief fragment from the tomb of Meketre
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
Medium
Limestone, paint
Dimensions
H. 10 cm ( 3 15/16 in.); W. 9.5 cm ( 3.3/4 in.); D. 3.4 cm ( 1 5/16 in.)
Classification
Relief, tomb of Meketre
Period
Middle Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1931
Accession Number
31.3.178g
Art Historical Context
This delicate limestone relief fragment hails from the tomb of Mre, a high-ranking official who served under pharaohs of Egypt's Middle Kingdom, specifically Dynasty 12 (ca. 1981–1975 B.C.). Discovered in his Theban tomb, such fragments were integral to elite burials, adorning chapel walls to invoke eternal provisions for the deceased in the afterlife. Meket's tomb is renowned for its vivid scenes of daily life, and this piece—measuring just 10 cm high—offers a glimpse into that tradition during a period of artistic revival and renewed prosperity following the chaos of the First Intermediate P...