Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History


    • Writing board with an architectural drawing, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, ca. 1550–1295 b.c.
    Egyptian; From western Thebes
    Plastered and painted wood; W. 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm)
    Gift of Norman de Garis Davies, 1914 (14.108)

    This fragmentary architectural drawing shows part of a small shrine (at upper right, in red) facing a body of water (at far left) and surrounded by trees within an enclosure wall of mud brick (in back). An orchard, also enclosed, runs parallel to the water. The measurements of the walls are written from right to left, and each begins with a hieroglyph in the shape of a forearm, which means "cubit," the Egyptian unit of length. This symbol is followed, in each case, by a number: an elongated semicircle stands for ten, and a stroke stands for one. Thus, the width of the orchard is thirty-two cubits.

    Related

    Index Terms

    Art Movement/Style

    Material and Technique

    Object

    Subject Matter/Theme


    This work has been published in the Museum's Bulletin or Journal. These articles may or may not represent the most current scholarship.
  • Roehrig, Catharine H. "Life along the Nile: Three Egyptians of Ancient Thebes." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 60, no. 1 (Summer, 2002).
    JSTOR | PDF
    • Not on view
    Move Separator Print
    Close
    • Writing board with an architectural drawing, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, ca. 1550–1295 B.C.
    Egyptian; From western Thebes
    Plastered and painted wood; W. 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm)
    Gift of Norman de Garis Davies, 1914 (14.108)

    Move
    Close