Tell el-Amarna - Tomb of Ay

... More >

completed; the others, to the south, have merely been begun in the rock at the top. On three of the columns the dead man and his wife are depicted worshiping the names of the sun god and the King and Queen. In the center of the rear wall is an unfinished doorway; at the northeast corner is a flight of steps designed to lead to the tomb chamber, which is not even begun; and at the northwest corner is an unfinished doorway. On the left hand entrance wall is an interesting relief, the only one completed: to the left are the King and Queen throwing down ornaments to Ay and his wife (upper parts of bodies in Egyptian Museum, Cairo) from a palace window; beside the Queen are her three small daughters, the one in front stroking her mother's chin; above, the sun. In the courtyard of the palace the royal retinue (charioteers, scribes, fan bearers, soldiers), raise their hands in homage; note the curious bent attitudes of the courtiers. Below are boys capering in delight. On the right Ay is seen leaving the palace and receiving the congratulations of his retainers, who raise their hands in exultation; servants carry the gifts away; and in the top row the palace doorkeepers with some small boys observe the scene.