Scene of hunters, bird catchers, and fishermen
Khety, the first recorded royal treasurer (“overseer of what is sealed”) of Mentuhotep II (ca. 2051–2000 B.C.), built his tomb high up in the cliffs at Deir el-Bahri, near the mortuary complex of his monarch. The relief fragments here derive from the tomb’s entrance passage, which was lined with decorated limestone blocks.
The fragments in this group depict hunters or soldiers armed with bows and throw-sticks. The head of a large dog is also preserved. The men wear feathers in their finely curled wigs; this was a common adornment for hunters, whether Egyptian, Nubian, or Libyan.
Below the hunters, a multitude of water fowl have been trapped in a clapnet that was set up beside a pool or waterway. It is remarkable how much detail the artists included in their depiction of the pole to which one end of the net is tied. There would have been men at the left drawing the net shut, but their figures have not been preserved.
The fragments to the right come from a representation of fishermen engaged in trapping fish in a large net.
See also 26.3.354h, i1, j, bb, and oo.
The fragments in this group depict hunters or soldiers armed with bows and throw-sticks. The head of a large dog is also preserved. The men wear feathers in their finely curled wigs; this was a common adornment for hunters, whether Egyptian, Nubian, or Libyan.
Below the hunters, a multitude of water fowl have been trapped in a clapnet that was set up beside a pool or waterway. It is remarkable how much detail the artists included in their depiction of the pole to which one end of the net is tied. There would have been men at the left drawing the net shut, but their figures have not been preserved.
The fragments to the right come from a representation of fishermen engaged in trapping fish in a large net.
See also 26.3.354h, i1, j, bb, and oo.
Artwork Details
- Title: Scene of hunters, bird catchers, and fishermen
- Period: Middle Kingdom
- Dynasty: Dynasty 11
- Reign: reign of Mentuhotep II
- Date: ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Tomb of Khety (TT 311, MMA 508), MMA excavations, 1922–23/1926–27
- Medium: Limestone, paint
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1926
- Object Number: 26.3.354-3-related
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.