Travelling Boat being Rowed
Unknown Artist
ca. 1981–1975 B.C.
Medium
Wood, paint, gesso, linen twine and linen fabric
Dimensions
l. 128 cm (50 3/8 in), with rudder 175 cm (68 7/8 in) x w. with oars 30.5 cm (12 in) x h. 37 cm (14 9/16 in)
Classification
Travelling boat, Meketre, music, harp;
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
20.3.1
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite wooden model, titled *Travelling Boat being Rowed dates to Egypt's Middle Kingdom (ca. 1981–1975 B.C.), during 12. It forms part of the renowned Meketre models discovered in the tomb of Meket, a wealthy official and treasurer under pharaohs like Mentuhotep II and Senusret I. These miniature scenes of daily life were crafted to magically provision the deceased in the afterlife, depicting essential activities like boating on the Nile for trade, transport, or pilgrimage. Carved from wood and adorned with vibrant paint over a gesso base, the boat features intricate details: lively rowers (depicted as men), linen twine rigging, fabric elements, a rudder, and extended oars. Measuring about 128 cm long (175 cm with rudder), its craftsmanship highlights Middle Kingdom artistry—precise joinery, naturalistic poses, and bold colors that bring the vessel to life. Such models showcase the era's advanced woodworking and the cultural belief in eternal journeys. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art department (Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1920), this piece offers a vivid window into ancient Egyptian society, where boats symbolized life's vital rhythm along the Nile. A testament to funerary devotion, it captivates with its blend of utility and otherworldly purpose.