Tomb Chapel of Raemkai

Old Kingdom
ca. 2446–2389 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 102
The chapel of Raemkai was originally built and decorated for an official named Neferiretnes, traces of whose name and titles can still be made out on the false door. Either Neferiretnes had fallen into disgrace, or his family had died out, leaving no one to care for his tomb. The reuse of the tomb for Raemkai was most probably by royal decree and took place before the reign of Isesi (ca. 2381 BC).

The inscriptions call Raemkai (the name means “the sun is my life force”) “king’s bodily son,” and he may well have been a true prince, although we do not know definitely from which pharaoh he descended. His offices were predominantly religious in charater, but one title ("representative of el-Kab") points to an assoiation with ceremonies around the royal coronation, indicating that Raemkai was, at least on occasion, close to the king's person.

The fine relief decorating the tomb includes among other scenes bird-catching, butchering, baking and brewing, and a large scene of the hunt in the steppes with lasso and dogs.

Search for "08.201.1" to find detailed information about the individual walls and scenes.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tomb Chapel of Raemkai
  • Period: Old Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 5
  • Date: ca. 2446–2389 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Saqqara, North of the Djoser pyramid complex, Mariette D3, Egyptian Antiquities Service/Quibell excavations, 1907–08
  • Medium: Limestone, paint
  • Dimensions: Chapel: H. 213.4 x N-S axis: 434 x E-W axis: 117 cm (84 x 170 7/8 x 46 1/16 in.); Entrance: N-S. 55 x E-W. 137 cm (21 5/8 x 53 15/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1908
  • Object Number: 08.201.1a–i
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 1122. Kids: Tomb Chapel of Raemkai

1122. Kids: Tomb Chapel of Raemkai

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The limestone wall in front of you features rows of pictures, carved in low relief. Look on the rows near the top for wild animals with horns.

These rows, or registers as they are called, illustrate men hunting in the Egyptian high country, on the edge of the desert. They hunt for ibex, antelope, gazelle, and other creatures using bows and arrows, and lassos. Also look for hunting dogs wearing collars.

Now look around at the other walls in this room. They come from a room that was part of an Egyptian tomb. These were the walls of an offering room, which was separate from the burial chamber and could be visited by a dead person’s relatives. This offering room, or chapel, was dedicated to a royal official named Raemkai. His name means “the sun is my life force.” Living people came to the chapel with food for Raemkai. The Egyptians imagined the life after death would be similar to the life they already knew. Therefore, Raemkai still needed food. The walls of the chapel show people preparing offerings to bring to the tomb of Raemkai. We’ve already seen hunters capturing animals for food.

Somewhere in this room, men are also capturing birds in large nets. Can you find this scene? Here’s a hint: the hunting scenes we looked at were high on the south wall of the chapel. You’ll find the birds low on the west wall. Happy hunting!

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