Relief from the North Wall of the Chapel of Ramesses I
Displayed in Gallery 129 are reliefs from three walls of the chapel of Ramesses I at Abydos. This monarch was a military officer from the eastern Delta. He served as a general and vizier under Haremhab, last king of Dynasty 18, and was designated by Haremhab as his successor. Ramesses was probably quite old when he became king and most of his monuments were finished by his son, Seti I.
On the North wall, shown here, Ramesses I is shown as the deceased king, assimilated into Osiris himself. Ramesses's image is seated before a table and piles of offerings (11.155.3a). Beneath is a platform whose central support is the symbolic union of Upper and Lower Egypt; on either side, Nile gods bring vases of fresh water symbolizing "life, all happiness, all food, all provisions."
Immediately above the offerings is the end of a tabular list of offerings; its beginning occupied most of the upper register, which is now lost. This is followed by a long series of spells (12.186.2a–c), originally from the Pyramid Texts (Old Kingdom, ca. 2400 B.C.), designed to ensure that "the mouth of the Son of Re, Ramesses, shall not thirst, nor shall it hunger."
The lower part of this wall contains two small registers depicting the rituals that accompanied the presentation of these offerings.
On the North wall, shown here, Ramesses I is shown as the deceased king, assimilated into Osiris himself. Ramesses's image is seated before a table and piles of offerings (11.155.3a). Beneath is a platform whose central support is the symbolic union of Upper and Lower Egypt; on either side, Nile gods bring vases of fresh water symbolizing "life, all happiness, all food, all provisions."
Immediately above the offerings is the end of a tabular list of offerings; its beginning occupied most of the upper register, which is now lost. This is followed by a long series of spells (12.186.2a–c), originally from the Pyramid Texts (Old Kingdom, ca. 2400 B.C.), designed to ensure that "the mouth of the Son of Re, Ramesses, shall not thirst, nor shall it hunger."
The lower part of this wall contains two small registers depicting the rituals that accompanied the presentation of these offerings.
Artwork Details
- Title: Relief from the North Wall of the 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. 96 × W. 148.5 cm (37 13/16 × 58 7/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Dikran G. Kelekian, 1912
- Object Number: 12.186.2a, b
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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ca. 1295–1294 B.C.
ca. 1295–1294 B.C.
ca. 1295–1294 B.C.
ca. 1295–1294 B.C.
ca. 1353–1336 B.C.
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