The Art of Ancient Egypt | Publications for Educators | Explore & Learn

Life and Riches in the "land of death"

Although the desert could be a threatening place where one could become lost and die, or encounter dangerous animals, the wild game of the desert was an important food source. The existence of abundant animal life in the "land of death" became a potent symbol of life after death.

Sphinx of Senwosret III
For the Egyptians, the hardness and durability of stone symbolized permanence and eternity. It was the ideal material for temples and tombs and for statues of the deceased. The hardest stones, such as granite, basalt, and graywace, were mined in Egypt's deserts. This sphinx was carved from a block of gneiss--a very hard form of granite.

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Man and dogs hunting gazelles
Line drawing after a stone relief in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. no. 08.201.1)

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