Artwork
Syrians Bringing an Elephant and a Bear, Tomb of Rekhmire
Syrians Bringing an Elephant and a Bear, Tomb of Rekhmire is an unspecified painting by Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These animals function as symbols of exotic tribute, emphasizing the far‑reaching connections of the deceased official and the wealth he could command.
The painting from the Tomb of Rekhmire shows Syrian visitors bearing a bear and an elephant as gifts. The scene includes a man identified as a Syrian, alongside the two large animals, set within the funerary context of the tomb. These animals function as symbols of exotic tribute, emphasizing the far‑reaching connections of the deceased official and the wealth he could command.
The depiction reflects New Kingdom artistic programs that recorded diplomatic exchanges and the spoils of foreign lands. The work was rendered by Nina M. Davies, whose 1904‑dated facsimile preserves the original imagery for modern study.
Technique & Style
The work is a painted facsimile of a scene from the Tomb of Rekhmire (TT 100), created by Nina M. Davies. It depicts Syrians presenting an elephant and a bear, along with an ingot, as part of a tribute procession. The medium is paint applied to a support that replicates the original tomb wall, serving as a precise visual record of the ancient Egyptian artwork.
The piece is classified as a painting and dates to the year 1504 in the context of its creation or the period it represents. Held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the work functions as a detailed reproduction intended to preserve the formal qualities and iconography of the original tomb decoration.
History & Provenance
The work is a facsimile painting created by Nina M. Davies, depicting Syrians bringing an elephant and a bear within the context of the Tomb of Rekhmire (TT 100). The piece was executed in 1504, serving as a record of the ancient Egyptian tomb's original wall paintings. This specific reproduction is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 31.6.43.
The artwork illustrates figures carrying a bear and an elephant, capturing the tribute scenes originally commissioned for the tomb of Rekhmire.
Overview
This wall painting, titled "Syrians Bringing an Elephant and a Bear," originates from the Tomb of Rekhmire, a high-ranking official during Egypt's 18th Dynasty. The scene captures individuals guiding an elephant and a bear, likely as part of a tribute or procession. It offers a glimpse into the diverse interactions and exotic goods present in ancient Egypt, preserved within a funerary context.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Egyptologists Nina M. Davies (6 January 1881 – 21 April 1965) and Norman de Garis Davies (1865–5 November 1941) were a married couple of illustrators and copyists who worked in the early and mid-twentieth century…
Menna and Family Hunting in the Marshes, Tomb of Menna
Amenhotep III and his Mother, Mutemwia, in a Kiosk
Queen Nefertari Playing Senet
Preparing Dough, Tomb of Rekhmire
Nakhtamun's Funeral Procession, Tomb of Nakhtamun
Ramesses III and Prince Amenherkhepeshef before Hathor
Sifting Meal, Tomb of Rekhmire
Funeral Procession, Tomb of Pairy
- Syrians Bringing Horses, Tomb of Rekhmire
Syrians Bringing an Ingot and a Chariot, tomb of Rekhmire
Syrians Bringing Vessels and Weapons, Tomb of Rekhmire
Gifts from the Keftiu, Tomb of Rekhmire
Cretans Bringing Gifts, Tomb of Rekhmire
Cretans Bringing Gifts of Metal and Jewelry, Tomb of Rekhmire
Facsimile painting from the tomb of Rekhmire
Hounds from Nubia, Tomb of Rekhmire
Aegean Islanders in the Tomb of Rekhmire
Gathering Honey, Tomb of Rekhmire
Men from Punt Carrying Gifts, Tomb of Rekhmire
Foreigners, Tomb of Menkheperraseneb