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Carpenter's Adze from a Foundation Deposit for Hatshepsut's Temple

New Kingdom
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 116
The handle of this adze is inscribed "The Good God, Maatkare, beloved of Amun, foremost of Djeser-Djeseru." Maatkare was the throne name of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and Djeser-Djeseru (Holy of Holies) was the name of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. The adze was uncovered in one of the temple's foundation deposits by the Museum's Egyptian Expedition. Although the adze is full-size and appears to be functional, the blade is too thin to be used for cutting and, like most of the tools discovered in foundation deposits, this is a model.

A replica of one of Hatshepsut's foundation deposits, 25.3.39, may be seen in gallery 115 and other objects from her deposits are on view in gallery 116 (see 22.3.241, 22.3.245, 25.3.40, 25.3.46a, b, 27.3.198). These are typical of the contents in foundation deposits from the time of Hatshepsut and her nephew, Thutmose III.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Carpenter's Adze from a Foundation Deposit for Hatshepsut's Temple
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: Joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
  • Date: ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Temple of Hatshepsut, Foundation Deposit 1 (A), Egypt Exploration Fund excavations, 1894–95
  • Medium: Wood, bronze or copper alloy, leather
  • Dimensions: L. of handle 19.6 cm (7 11/16 in.)
    L. of blade 15.7 cm (6 3/16 in.) ; W. 5.3 cm (2 1/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1896
  • Object Number: 96.4.7
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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