Tomb of Ramose

The painted funeral procession, general view of the west half of the midsection of the south wall; Egyptian tomb in the necropolis at Thebes (now Luxor), built for the city's vizier and governor Ramose (active ca. 1375-ca. 1365 BCE). It is large but unfinished, and is decorated partly with wall paintings on mud plaster, partly in exquisite limestone low relief. It is of particular interest because its decoration was begun in the conventional manner but was completed in a new style, after the accession of King Amenophis IV (Akhenaten). This Amarna style showed all human figures in the peculiar form chosen to depict Akhenaten himself: prominent lips and jaws, narrow, slanting eyes and female body contours. The roof of the square entrance hall was supported by papyriform columns (now restored). To the right and left of the entrance doorway the sculptors cut fine reliefs, intended to be painted but actually left bare, showing rows of guests at a banquet and Ramose making and receiving offerings. On the left wall is a colourful painting of the funeral procession, showing the coffin being dragged to the tomb, followed by mourners and bearers of funerary equipment such as furniture, unguents and flowers. The rear wall displays a theme soon to become familiar in the decoration of the new royal capital at el-Amarna: the King and his queen, Nefertiti, in the window of their palace, rewarding Ramose before a crowd of officials. In his role of vizier Ramose also showed himself receiving foreign delegates. The inner room is unfinished. After the move by the court to el-Amarna, there is no further record of Ramose and his family. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/15/2008