Tile with fish and lotus flowers in a canal
This tile once decorated the palace of Ramesses II in Piramesse, which he made into one of the greatest royal cities of ancient Egypt. Thanks to the royal favor and its strategic location, Piramesse soon became an important international trade center and a cosmopolitan metropolis, boasting a harbor, a military base, and temples dedicated to various gods like Amun-Re-Harakhty-Atum, Seth, Astarte, etc. Poems were written in the city's praise, and its name, which translates as "The House of Ramesses, Beloved of Amun, Great of Victories" when fully written, came to us through the Old Testament as ‘Raamses.’
The tiles bear the names of Seti I, Ramesses II and later Ramesside kings, who renovated the palace and changed its decoration through the reigns. New tiles were made, and the old tiles may be have been dismantled and buried together. Based on the tiles, we can still reconstruct quite a number of the features of the palace that are now completely lost, including throne podiums, steps, windows of appearance, and faience sculptures.
Pastoral and domestic scenes, including this pool liberally stocked with fish and waterfowl and ringed with papyrus and other marsh plants, are assumed to come from the private apartments of the Egyptian palace.
The tiles bear the names of Seti I, Ramesses II and later Ramesside kings, who renovated the palace and changed its decoration through the reigns. New tiles were made, and the old tiles may be have been dismantled and buried together. Based on the tiles, we can still reconstruct quite a number of the features of the palace that are now completely lost, including throne podiums, steps, windows of appearance, and faience sculptures.
Pastoral and domestic scenes, including this pool liberally stocked with fish and waterfowl and ringed with papyrus and other marsh plants, are assumed to come from the private apartments of the Egyptian palace.
Artwork Details
- Title: Tile with fish and lotus flowers in a canal
- Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside
- Dynasty: Dynasty 19
- Reign: reign of Ramesses II
- Date: ca. 1279–1213 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Eastern Delta, Qantir (Piramesse), Palace of Ramesses II, Private apartments
- Medium: Polychrome faience
- Dimensions: l. 37.3 cm (14 11/16 in); w. 20 cm (7 7/8 in); d. 2 cm (13/16 in)
- Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund, Edward S. Harkness Gift and by exchange, 1922, 1929, 1935
- Object Number: 35.1.104
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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