Two Birds

Two Birds

Fifth Dynasty, reign of Userkaf
Painted limestone
H. 14.5 cm (5 3/4 in.)
Egyptian Museum, Cairo TEMP 6-9-32-1

This little fragment from Userkaf's ruined mortuary complex was part of a large scene depicting life in a marsh along the Nile. It is not unusual to find hunting and fishing scenes or simple depictions of nature in the reliefs within Fifth Dynasty royal temples. Such reliefs reflect a long tradition, attested by a few fragments from the temple of the Bent Pyramid, built by Snefru in Dahshur (cat. no. 2.2). The traces of green paint on the papyrus stalks behind these birds are a reminder that all such scenes were painted in bright colors. The finely sculpted relief in soft limestone shows the technical skill and gifts of observation possessed by early Fifth Dynasty artists. In particular