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Relief from the North Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I

New Kingdom, Ramesside

ca. 1295–1294 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 129

On the North wall of his chapel at Abydos, Ramesses I is shown as the deceased king who has become one with the god Osiris. The dead king's image is seated, his hand stretched toward a small offering table. To the right of the table are piles of offerings and above these is an offering list. The small figures on the lower right are performing the rituals that accompanied the presentation of the offerings.

Below the figure of Ramesses are a group of Nile gods, two of whom tie the symbols of Upper and Lower Egypt (the papyrus and lotus plants) around the hieroglyph that means union. On either side of these figures, other Nile gods bring vases of fresh water symbolizing "life, all happiness, all food, all provisions."

Ramesses I, first king of Dynasty 19, came to the throne as an elderly man. This chapel and most other monuments dedicated to Ramesses were built or completed by his son and successor Seti I.

Relief from the North Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I, Limestone — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Relief from the North Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I, Limestone

Relief from the North Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I, Limestone

Relief from the North Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I, Limestone

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Title: Relief from the North Wall of a Chapel of Ramesses I

Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside

Dynasty: Dynasty 19

Reign: reign of Seti I

Date: ca. 1295–1294 B.C.

Geography: From Egypt, Northern Upper Egypt, Abydos, Temple of Sety I, north of NE corner, Chapel of Ramesses I

Medium: Limestone

Dimensions: H. 139.7 × W. 165.1 cm (55 × 65 in.)

Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1911

Accession Number: 11.155.3a

Chronology

Egypt, 2000-1000 B.C.

The Scepter of Egypt: A Background for the Study of the Egyptian Antiquities in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Vol. 2, The Hyksos Period and the New Kingdom (1675–1080 B.C.)

The Scepter of Egypt: A Background for the Study of the Egyptian Antiquities in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Vol. 2, The Hyksos Period and the New Kingdom (1675–1080 B.C.)

"J. Pierpont Morgan: Financier and Collector": The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 57, no. 3 (Winter, 2000)

"J. Pierpont Morgan: Financier and Collector": The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 57, no. 3 (Winter, 2000)

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The Met's collection of ancient Egyptian art consists of approximately 26,000 objects of artistic, historical, and cultural importance, dating from the Paleolithic to the Roman period.