Relief from the West Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I
Unknown Artist
ca. 1295–1294 B.C.
Medium
Limestone
Dimensions
H. 119 × W. 262 cm (46 7/8 in. × 8 ft. 7 1/8 in.)
Classification
Relief, Ramesses I Chapel, West wall
Period
New Kingdom, Ramesside
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1911
Accession Number
11.155.3b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking limestone relief hails from the west wall of a chapel dedicated to Ramesses, the founder of Egypt's 19th Dynasty during the New Kingdom's Ramesside period (ca. 1295–1294 B.C.). Measuring an impressive 119 cm high and over 2.6 meters wide, it exemplifies the monumental scale of ancient Egyptian temple decoration. Likely part of a royal mortuary, the west wall's placement evokes the sun's setting journey, symbolizing the pharaoh's transition to the afterlife—a core theme in Egyptian funerary art. Carved in low relief, the artwork features figures of men and accompanying hieroglyph...