ancientpeoples:Reconstruction of Wall Decoration from the Temple of Amun at MalqataEgypt, New Kingdo
ancientpeoples:Reconstruction of Wall Decoration from the Temple of Amun at MalqataEgypt, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III, ca. 1390–1352 B.C.Ancient faience tiles with modern plaster and gold paint.The faience tiles in this reconstructed panel of architectural decoration were unearthed during the Museum’s excavations at Malqata, the site of a festival city constructed by Amenhotep III to celebrate his three jubilee festivals, or Heb-Seds. The tiles were found in stacks on the floor of a room in the southwest corner of a temple built to honor the god Amun. Originally they probably decorated the sides of a wooden shrine or some other piece of temple furniture such as a sacred barque that would have been used to carry the god’s image in celebrations.The reconstruction is based on the shapes of the tiles which suggest that they were made to fill spaces between series of running spirals. These spirals would probably have been carved in wood or plaster, and covered with gold foil (restored here in yellow paint). Smaller, rectangular tiles formed the borders of the decoration. The excavators found other decorative elements in the same area as the tiles, including the cavetto cornice (17.10.1b) and a cartouche (17.10.1c) containing the throne name of Amenhotep III (Nebmaatre). Originally thought to be parts of wall decoration, it now seems more likely that these are the remains of decorated temple furniture that was dismantled to retrieve the gold after the temple was no longer in use.Source: Met Museum -- source link