Stele of Shemai, c. 1960-1916 BC. Two techniques of relief carving are employed here: the scene of the deceased seated before a table of offerings and its accompanying inscriptions are in raised relief, while the border inscriptions are in sunk relief. The three columns of hieroglyphs in the center read: "The one honored before Osiris, lord of Busiris, the great god, lord of Abydos, that he [the god] may give invocation-offerings of bread and beer, oxen and fowl, travertine [vases] and clothing to the ka [vital spirit] of the chief of police, Shemai, ;

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Size: 4971px × 4655px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., 12, 28, 1904, art, aswan, cecil, cleveland, dynasty, early, egypt, el-hawa, equipment, excavations, funerary, heritage, kingdom, lady, limestone, middle, museum, painted, qubbet, reign, sesostris, tombs, unknown, william