Kamrin, Exercise 19, Object 1: Animal Offering from the Old Kingdom

Object 1: Animal Offering from the Old Kingdom

Procession of offering bearers from the mastaba of Mereruka who served during the 6th dynasty of Egypt (Tomb LS10 in the Teti Cemetery in Saqqara).

References:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mereruka
• http://www.osirisnet.net/mastabas/mererouka/e_mereruka_01.htm#

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These are the depicted animals:

• Animal 1 – Scimitar Oryx (Oryx dammah) – “The scimitar oryx, as the name indicates, has long, slender, and curving horns, which measure 80-125 cm. The body color is white, washed with reddish-brown on the neck, shoulders, back, upper base of the tail, lower part of the body, and flanks.” (The Mammals of Ancient Egypt by Dale J.Osborn with Jana Osbornovà).
  
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• Animal 2 – Antelope (Addax nasomacultatus) – “Addax are very distinct in having long, slender, spirally twisted horns that slope backward. (..) Color varies from white to gravish-white in spring and summer to brownish-gray in winter. (..) The head is darker than the body and has a white X-like mark across the muzzle and cheeks in front of the eyes, from which the name nasomaculatus was derived. There is a conspicuous brownish mat of hair on the forehead. Long hair below the ears and on the throat and neck simulate a mane.” (The Mammals of Ancient Egypt by Dale J.Osborn with Jana Osbornovà)
  
  
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• Animal 3 – Dorcas Gazelle (Gazella dorcas) – “Male horns are semi-lyrate in frontal view with tips curving anteriorly and inwardly. In lateral view the horns are strongly curvated backward and foreward. Female horns are shorter, slenderer, and straighter than male horns and anulations are much less developed. (..) The body color is light reddish-brown dorsally; the sides are paler and bordered with the same color as back. The head, neck, and legs, are pale. The throat, neck, chest, belly, inner sides of legs and the samll rump patch are white. The tail is short and black.” (The Mammals of Ancient Egypt by Dale J.Osborn with Jana Osbornovà)
  
  
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Similar Scenes in other Tombs/Mastabas

Offering scene, Tomb of Nefer, early Dynasty VI, Giza ( Junker, Giza VI, 1943 Wien – Fig. 16)

Scimitar oryx as offering in the Mastaba of Rahotep, Dynasty III or IV, Medum (Petrie, Medum, 1892 London – Pl. XI)

Offering procession, Tomb of Akhetep, Dynasty V, Saqqara (Davies, The MAstaba of Ptahhetep and Akhethetep at Saqqareh. Part II, 1901 London -Pl. XIX).

Offering scene, Dynasty V, Saqqara (Lepsius, Denkmaler, 1897-1913, II Pl. 46)

Tomb of Idut, Dynasty V, Saqqara

Offering Scene, Mastaba of Remni, Saqqara.