Tombs of the Nobles: Tomb of Nakht

Tombs of the Nobles
Hundreds of tombs of the nobles were constructed in the foothills of the mountains at the edge of the western desert. The most famous are those at Sheikh Abd el Kurna, west of the Ramesseum. The majority of tombs were designed in two parts: a wide court leading to a hall that was sometimes supported by pillars or columns, and a long corridor to the rear leading to the offering shrine that had niches for the statue of the deceased. The walls were covered with a layer of whitewashed clay; this was painted. There are sculptured reliefs in only a few of the tombs. They shed a flood of light on life in the New Kingdom.

Tomb of Nakht

Sheikh Abd el Kurna Tomb of Nakht
This is a simple tomb of the Scribe of the Granaries under Thutmose IV, who may also have been an astronomer. It comprises two chambers and only the first is decorated. But in this single room are such detailed activities, executed with such infinite charm, and in such good state of repair, that the tomb will always rank as one of the finest.

Tomb of Nakht

To the left of the doorway, on the first wall (a),jare a series of agricultural scenes including ploughing, digging and sowing. In the upper row the deceased superintends three stages of the harvest: the measuring and winnowing of the grain, the reaping and pressing of the grain into baskets - with a charming drawing of a man leaping in the air so that the weight of his body might press the grain in tightly - and, in the lower row, the labourers being organised by the deceased for ploughing in two teams. Note that the ploughman has ragged hair, the ox is a piebald and that, in the midst of the strenuous work, one of the workers takes a moment’s respite to drink from a wineskin on a tree.

On the rear left-hand wall (b) there is a scene showing the deceased and his wife (in the lower row) being brought flowers and geese by their son while three young girls play music to them. These female musicians are sensitively painted in perfect detail. The graceful lute player dances to the accompaniment of a no less graceful flautist and a harpist. The body of one girl is given front- view treatment while her head is turned to speak to her colleague. Above is a blind harpist playing to guests; he is attended by an audience of women seated on the ground - who appear to be gossiping. A young girl leans forward to present perfume before the nostrils of three women.

On the right-hand rear wall (c) the deceased is seated with his wife in an arbour (lower row) while flowers, poultry, grapes and fish are brought to them by their servants.

Tomb of Nakht

On this same wall (c) birds are being caught in nets and subsequently plucked. The filled net is a complex of wings and colours. Grapes are being picked and pressed into wine (lower rows), and in the upper row the deceased enjoys his hobbies. He is spearing fish and shooting fowl. The fishing scene was never completed; though the fish themselves are drawn. Nakht has no spear in his hand. His wife tenderly holds an injured bird in her hand. His little daughter holds his leg.

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