Tomb Wall Decoration

Fragment of a painted wall from Theban Tomb 222, decorated with a scene from a funeral ceremony. A priest holds a coffin upright, with a female mourner kneeling before the foot of the coffin. Theban Tomb 222 was the burial place of Heqamaatranakht, also called Turo, a high priest of the god Montu at Thebes during the reigns of Ramesses 3rd - 4th. His wife, who is shown in the scene, is named as Wiay who was chief of the harem of Montu at Thebes. His sons are Userhet, chief prophet of Montu, and Panebmontu, first prophet of Montu. The object was donated to Norwich Castle Museum in 1919 by Dr Fisher and was described as being formerly in the collection of Robert de Rustafjaell (Sotheby's 1913, 20-24 Jan Lot 599). Tracings of the tomb decoration were made by Norman and Nina de Garis Davies; see the Griffith Institute website for further information http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/gri/4TT222.html. Sold at Sotheby's, London, 1913, 20-24 Jan Lot 599: "A large Panel of Fresco Painting; 19 in. high, 15 in. wide; with inscriptions and Figures of a Man supporting a Mummy in its casing and with a Woman seated on the ground in front in mourning attitude".