Wooden Model of a Cattle Stable

I love wooden models so much because I love tiny 𓈖𓆓𓋴𓅩 things and the models also remind me of dollhouses! I could spend such a long time just looking at these models – they have been preserved so well and they are so detailed! 

This wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model (and many others) were found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 of the Royal Chief Steward Meketre who lived during the reign 𓋾 of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 and possibly Amenemhat I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓅓𓄂𓏏. There were 24 𓎆𓎆𓏽 almost perfectly preserved models found in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. Half of the models are at the MET, while the other half are at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo!

Meketre’s high status as an official 𓋴𓂋𓀀 is why he was able to afford so many wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models and such an elaborate burial. Even though Meketre was well off, the models do provide a look into the life 𓋹 of the non-royals during the Middle Kingdom! 

While Egyptian 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐 religious beliefs didn’t necessarily change much over time, some of the customs did! The Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 believed that the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed nourishment in the forms of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 and water 𓈗, even in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. In the Middle Kingdom, wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 models depicting different types of food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥 production were placed in a sealed chamber in the tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐. It was thought that the models would hold magical more 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 power than the carvings used during the Old Kingdom, and also keep the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 nourished! 

This particular model depicts a “Model Cattle Stable” in which workers are feeding cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 in order to fatten them for slaughter. In ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, cattle 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒𓏦 were revered due to the worship of many cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 gods 𓊹𓊹𓊹, however, they were also used for food 𓇬𓀁𓅱𓏔𓏥. Only the rich could afford to eat beef 𓇋𓍯𓄿𓄹, so I guess Meketre wanted to stock up for the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! I can’t say I blame him!