Deir el-Medina stelae, offering
tables and their fragments from
the Petrie Museum
This page was last updated on January 16th 2008
Sources:
1. Museum's own labels
2. Museum's web site at www.petrie.ucl.ac.uk
UC14446
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, around 1295-1186 BC
Limestone
Offering table of Penrennut, "servant in the
Place of Truth". The damaged spout is incised
with two columns of lotuses. Between them
there is one column of hieroglyphic inscription
on the base of the table. There is also a
crude cake and two 'leeks' on either side of
the spout.
Length: 18.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Depth: 4.75 cm
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UC14354
From Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty, about 1160 BC
Limestone
Offering stela of a person seated to the left
of the offering table. A young male on the
right side stands in the posture of
reverence. Above the male and the offering
table there is an inscription, consisting of
seven short vertical columns of hieroglyphs.
At the top register there is a boat of Ra
coloured yellow and red. Traces of red,
yellow and blue pigments are surviving on the
rest of the stela.
Height: 29 cm
Width: 22.5 cm
UC14223
Probably from Deir el-Medina
20th dynasty (1186-1069 BC)
Limestone
Height: 20 cm
Width: 12.7 cm
This is a right-hand part of a framed stele of Kaha.
It shows the deified Amenhotep I (1551-1524 BC)
standing to the left, holding a spear in his left hand.
The two cartouches next to him identify him as
Amenhotep Djeserkare. To his right there is a priest
standing in adoring position. The priest's name is
written in a hieroglyphic inscription above his head.
UC14429
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, around 1186-1295 BC
Limestone
Offering table of Anakht, "servant in the Place
of Truth". Hieroglyphic inscription inscribed
around the edges. Only the right half of the
object is in the museum.
Height: 18 cm
Width: max. 12 cm
UC14439
Found at Thebes, probably from Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty, 1295-1186 BC)
Limestone
Width: 14 cm
Height: 7.5 cm
Upper part of a votive stele showing a coiled
cobra with two plumes on her head. The
worshipper's name is illegible in the hieroglyphic
inscription, the rest reads "beloved of the
goddess Meretseger".
UC14379
Possibly from Deir el-Medina
Ramesside Period (1295-1069 BC)
Limestone
Height: 20.5 cm
Width: 14.5 cm
Fragment from a tomb. In the lower left
side of the fragment there is an upper
part of a royal head and face with uraeus
on the forehead. Above the head there is
a cartouche of Ahmes Nefertari, the
queen of Ahmose I (1570-1546 BC), the
mother of Amenhotep I (1551-1524 BC).  
UC14599
From Deir el-Medina
19th dynasty (1295-1186 BC)
Limestone
Width: 32 cm
Height: 18.5 cm
Fragment of a stele from the tomb of
Khawey, who had a title "Guardian in
the Place of Truth".
The stele shows a pair of human heads
on the left side and a male head on
the right side. There is a hieroglyphic
inscription around the head on the
right.
The New Kingdom stelae very often show the owner in adoration in front of deities. The position of
honour seems to be the left, so the deities occupy that area, and may be seated, while the owner
stands to their right. Stelae of the 18th Dynasty often show only the owner, his wife and his
children. Stelae of the Ramesside period may include other family members.

The upper parts of offering tables were often carved with the loaves, trussed ducks and vessels, so
that the stone-carved images could serve as magical substitutes for the real food offerings. Usually
the hieroglyphic offering formula and/or lists of produce are also present. Sometimes there were
grooves or channels cut into the surface of the table so that liquids such as water, beer or wine could
be poured on to the table.