10 | Model granary and boat

The afterlife was one of the most important concepts in ancient Egyptian culture and preparations for eternity began in a person’s lifetime.

Over time, Egyptians commemorated an individual’s achievements and identity, prepared an adequate burial place and provided essential elements for securing eternal life.

These essential elements included personal possessions – such as the Book of the Dead – equipment for safeguarding one’s passage to the afterlife, but also food and drink offerings for the deceased to survive in the afterlife.

These 3-dimensional sculptures represent daily life activities and their magical continuation in the afterlife.

And what better way to enjoy that life than by having an eternal supply of the ancient Egyptian staples of beer and bread.

These models were typical for the end of the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom.

Usually made of wood, they were commonly placed in the burial chamber of a tomb, near the body of the deceased.

This location suggests they would not have been accessible to the living. These models were for the dead.

One model here shows a granary with 7 carved figures.

Most wear the short, bobbed wigs and long white kilts of the working class but one is in a short kilt. Look by the door.

You can see a figure observing the bustling activities. His arm is stretched out, indicating he is possibly a supervisor or manager.

In front of him are 3 men hoisting sacks of grain – one has already climbed the stairs of a silo to deposit his haul.

Behind them is a baker reaching out to an open fire, piled with bread moulds.

He is preparing and ensuring an endless supply of freshly baked bread for the afterlife.

Another man stands with a large vessel, likely brewing beer for eternity.

The second model serves a slightly different purpose.

With water transport being the quickest, cheapest and most effective means of travel in ancient Egypt, a boat was essential for travelling in the afterlife.

This boat comes with a crew of 12, all in white kilts and bobbed wigs.

Five pairs of rowers stretch out their arms. See how a few have one arm slightly raised?

This small detail expresses movement among the rowers.

Look closely at their fists – they are closed – as if they originally held long oars that likely once existed but have since been lost.

The crew is transporting some intriguing items.

Near the middle of the boat stands an ox, head deep in a vessel, as if eating.

At the stern is a rectangular decorated coffin and at the front is another, human-shaped coffin.

This was the crew transporting funerary equipment for the afterlife.

The ox was either meant to be slaughtered or would have been used in the funerary procession.