The Polychrome Hieroglyph Research Project

Université Libre de Bruxelles - Faculté de Philosophie et Sciences sociales

This page displays details of the selected Monument. Click on the Monument number to list all individual signs ("occurrences") recorded from that object or structure.

Mon. 28


Monument : Sarenput I
Period : Dynasty XII
Reign(s) : Senusret I
High Date : 1956
Low Date : 1911
Monument type : Private Tomb
Localisation or provenance : Elephantine
References : PM V, 238-239; Müller (1940);

Sarenput I, a powerful nomarch under Senusret I, was “Mayor and Overseer of prophets of Satis of Elephantine”. His elaborate tomb (see plan in PM V, 236, 36) contains several polychrome inscriptions, of variable conservation. As no high quality colour photos are readily available, use has been made of the extensive sign list in Müller (1940, 109-111). The colours used show some deviation from the canon, perhaps reflecting the distance separating Aswan from the seat of power at that time : Iti-Tawy, a still undiscovered site, possibly somewhere near Lisht (Shaw 2000, 148). The Middle Kingdom was still young and the renewal of influence of the central power on provincial high culture had probably not yet made itself felt. These unusual colours are found in the signs M17 (yellow and red), N14 (blue and red), O49 (red and yellow), Q3 (yellow), V28 (yellow), V30 (yellow) and Aa1 (yellow and red). All these signs are common and generally subject to little variation. It seems that yellow has been used here in place of green. In fact, no green was recorded by Müller for any sign.