Relief of Mourning Women
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Object Label
New Kingdom funerals often featured female mourners wailing and gesturing dramatically. Although sometimes called “professional mourners,” more likely these local women joined the funeral procession to express solidarity and sorrow, and also to participate in a public event.
The sloppy carving and indistinct lines show that the sculptor of this tomb relief was relatively unskilled, but he did successfully convey how ancient women demonstrated grief by throwing dust on their heads and even falling to the ground. The different shapes of the figures indicate different ages.
Caption
Relief of Mourning Women, ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E.. Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco, 11 7/16 x 16 1/4 x 2 13/16 in. (29 x 41.2 x 7.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.31E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.31E_PS9.jpg)
Title
Relief of Mourning Women
Date
ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E.
Dynasty
late Dynasty 18 to early Dynasty 19
Period
New Kingdom
Geography
Possible place made: Saqqara, Egypt
Medium
Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco
Classification
Dimensions
11 7/16 x 16 1/4 x 2 13/16 in. (29 x 41.2 x 7.2 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
37.31E
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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