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Metropolitan Museum of Art — Egyptian Art (Open Access) · other

Tablet from a foundation deposit of King Mentuhotep II

Source of record: Metropolitan Museum of Art — Egyptian Art (Open Access) — catalogued by the holding institution. View the original record →

Description

Wood

AI image analysis claude-haiku-4-5

Machine-generated from the object's image on May 2026. Not curatorial; treat deities, names, and signs below as the model's best reading, not authority.

A wooden tablet inscribed with a vertical column of Egyptian hieroglyphics, likely part of a foundation deposit commemorating the reign of King Mentuhotep II of the Middle Kingdom.

This is a wooden votive tablet featuring a vertical arrangement of incised hieroglyphic signs. The tablet displays the characteristic tan-brown patina of aged wood, consistent with Middle Kingdom period materials from Deir el-Bahri. The inscriptions are arranged in a single vertical column running down the length of the tablet's face. The carved signs include human figures, various symbolic elements, and geometric patterns typical of Egyptian foundation deposit texts. The upper portion contains a patterned border motif, while the lower section includes what appears to be a cartouche or royal seal element. The overall execution is relatively refined, suggesting this was an official ceremonial object. The wear patterns and patination are consistent with ancient burial contexts.

hieroglyphic only Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 11, reign of Mentuhotep II, ca. 2055-2002 BCE) good
Deities unknown
Royals Mentuhotep II
Materials wood
Signs Patterned border or crown element Standing human figure (possibly representing a deity or royal figure) ×2 Cartouche or oval enclosure (royal name element) Geometric/architectural elements ×3 Various hieroglyphic signs in damaged or unclear condition ×4
Visible text "The inscription consists of royal titles and foundation deposit formulae typical of Mentuhotep II's reign, though individual signs are not clearly legible in this image."

Connections

Found at Deir el-Bahri
Royals Mentuhotep II
Materials Wood

Cross-references (4)

  • Wikidata-Q Q116252078 tier-1
  • Collection-QID Q160236 tier-2 (wikidata-mediated)
  • Inventory-Number 22.3.187 tier-2 (wikidata-mediated)
  • MET-Object 544002 tier-2 (wikidata-mediated)
About this record's data
  • From the source institution — accession, description, dimensions, and dating are as catalogued by Metropolitan Museum of Art — Egyptian Art (Open Access).
  • AI-inferred — the image-analysis panel (deities, names, signs) is machine-generated and may be wrong.
  • Approximate location — most map points are plotted at the site centroid, not the exact findspot.
  • Inferred links — cross-references marked with a match method other than explicit-source-field were matched by us, not stated by the source.