The Door Of Ni Ankh Snefru Essay - 997 Words

Okirah Harris Artist Name (Unknown) Door of Ni-ankh-Snefru ca. 2321-2278 B.C.E. White Limestone From the great pyramids to notable rulers, Egypt has solidified its reputation as one of the most dominant civilizations of the Mediterranean world. Through the creation of monuments and artifacts emerges the true beauty and richness of Egypt’s history and art. The Door of Ni-ankh-Snefru embodies the depth of social and religious implications within Egyptian culture. The door was an important element to private tombs because it served as a passageway for the deceased soul to go from one world to the next. Doors like this were often inscribed with offering instructions, the name, and titles of its owner. Visitors would bring offerings to the private tomb to celebrate Ni-ankh-Snefru, who was a wine cellar and food storage overseer at the palace and a lector priest. The sculpture itself stands about five feet high, three feet wide, and is from the Old Kingdom during ca.2321 BCE. It is made of white limestone which gives it a grainy texture, but has traces of paint that give it a more even tone of an off-white or cream color. Typical of Egyptian art, the Door of Ni-ankh-Snefru is decorated with hieroglyphics and reliefs to frame the importance of the deceased, Ni-ankh-Snefru, and convey messages of administration, religion, and culture to its viewers. Egyptian hieroglyphics, typically depicted on scrolls, pottery, and stone, were regularly used to keep records for