Understanding the news: A funerary garden first, Middle Kingdom
“The discovery of the garden may shed light on the environment and gardening in ancient Thebes during the Middle Kingdom, around 2000 BCE,” said Jose Galan, head of the Spanish mission and research professor at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid.
The ancient Egyptians were keen gardeners and gardens with plants and trees are commonly featured in funerary art and models so that their owners could enjoy them in the Afterlife.
Although wooden tomb models of houses, gardens, boats, servants and food production were common in elite Middle Kingdom tombs, this is the first known example of a model garden and was found in the courtyard of a Middle Kingdom tomb in the vicinity of later New Kingdom tombs at Dra Abu el-Naga on the West bank at Thebes by a Spanish mission.
Representations of gardens appear in some New Kingdom funerary art placed at the entrances of tombs so the garden may have performed a ritualistic purpose. It's location in the courtyard suggests it was accessible to the deceased's family and friends to visit and bring offerings, indeed, a small dish containing fruit was also found.
Examples of similar, although larger squared gardens have been found at the royal city of Akhetaton from the New Kingdom. (eg http://www.amarnaproject.com/pages/amarna_the_place/north_palace/index.shtml)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/267024.aspx
“The discovery of the garden may shed light on the environment and gardening in ancient Thebes during the Middle Kingdom, around 2000 BCE,” said Jose Galan, head of the Spanish mission and research professor at the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid.
The ancient Egyptians were keen gardeners and gardens with plants and trees are commonly featured in funerary art and models so that their owners could enjoy them in the Afterlife.
Although wooden tomb models of houses, gardens, boats, servants and food production were common in elite Middle Kingdom tombs, this is the first known example of a model garden and was found in the courtyard of a Middle Kingdom tomb in the vicinity of later New Kingdom tombs at Dra Abu el-Naga on the West bank at Thebes by a Spanish mission.
Representations of gardens appear in some New Kingdom funerary art placed at the entrances of tombs so the garden may have performed a ritualistic purpose. It's location in the courtyard suggests it was accessible to the deceased's family and friends to visit and bring offerings, indeed, a small dish containing fruit was also found.
Examples of similar, although larger squared gardens have been found at the royal city of Akhetaton from the New Kingdom. (eg http://www.amarnaproject.com/pages/amarna_the_place/north_palace/index.shtml)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/267024.aspx
THIS shows the importance
ReplyDeleteEygptians Placed On having &
Taking Time for Meditation,
Contemplation, (quiet time)
Also Remembering LOST loved
Ones. THINGS PEOPLE OF THIS
AGE, SPECIALLY PEOPLE OF THE
WEST HAVE LONG SINCE CEASED TO VALUE...
رووووووعة
ReplyDeleteWow..
ReplyDelete