Fishermen and Herdsmen with Their Animals. Probably Saqqara; early Sixth Dynasty, reign of Teti (ca. 2323–2291 B.C.E.) or slightly later. Painted limestone; H. of left block 18 1/2 in. (47 cm); H. of right block 19 in. (48.2 cm). The Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase (30.371).

Two tightly knit groups dominate this scene: a herd of similarly posed bovines and intricately arranged fishermen. Landscape and location are represented by a few emblematic props—the blue zone at the bottom represents water, which is being forded by the herdsmen and their animals, and the narrow strip indicates that the fishermen are standing on dry land. Interesting is the technique used to make the herd cross the water—the mother cow follows the herdsmen carrying the calf and the rest of the herd follows her. The relief is higher than Fifth Dynasty examples, and the edges of outlines and overlapping forms are well rounded, giving the relief a fuller, more sculptural quality; interior modeling is used sparingly.