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Paintings from the Tomb-chapel of Nebamun, British Museum

Updated: Nov 12, 2023


Painted tomb of Nebamun


These wall paintings are from an 18th Dynasty tomb chapel located in the Theban Necropolis located on the west bank of the Nile at Thebes. The tomb chapel belonged to Nebamun, a middle-ranking official scribe and grain counter at the temple complex in Thebes. The tomb’s plastered walls were richly and skilfully decorated with lively fresco paintings, depicting idealised views of Nebamun’s life and activities.


An entire wall of the tomb-chapel showed a feast in honour of Nebamun. Naked serving-girls and servants wait on his friends and relatives and all the guests wear elaborate linen clothes painted as if it were transparent, to show that it is very fine.


Nebamun’s cattle, Tomb-chapel of Nebamun


This fragment is part of a wall showing Nebamun inspecting flocks of geese and herds of cattle. Hieroglyphs describe the scene and record what the people say as they squabble in the queue, with the herdsman telling the farmer in front of him:

Come on! Get away! Don’t speak in the presence of the praised one! He detests people talking… Pass on in quiet and in order… He knows all affairs, does the scribe and counter of grain of Amun, Nebamun.

Details

Date: c. 1350 BCE Period: 18th Dynasty Materials: Paint on plaster Findspot: Tomb Chapel of Nebamun, Thebes Location: British Museum, Room 61 Museum number: EA37986 (feast) Registration Number: .37986

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