About this artwork
In the Middle Kingdom, tomb paintings and statues were often supplemented with wooden models. This boat is fully equipped with a crew, oars, and a mast. It was thought that the model could provide the soul of the deceased not only with routine transportation, but also with the ability to make the pilgrimage to the sacred city of Abydos in southern Egypt, the cult center of the god Osiris.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 50
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
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Title
- Model of a River Boat
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Place
- Egypt (Object made in)
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Date
- 2046 BCE–1794 BCE
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Medium
- Wood and pigment
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Dimensions
- 63.5 × 114.3 × 17.1 cm (25 × 45 × 6 3/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, Robert H. Fleming, and Norman W. Harris
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Reference Number
- 1894.241
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/127874/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.