The tomb of Djehutyhotep "Great Chief of the Hare Nome"

The tomb of Djehutyhotep "Great Chief of the Hare Nome"

On this wall is preserved the representation of a remarkable hunting scene, whose colours have unfortunately disappeared. The master is represented as a large sized heroic figure, sheathed in a tight garment (very different from those found in similar scenes of the New Kingdom), and supported by a long stick . He contemplates the register of hunting in the desert in front of him, filled with animals and men represented a lot smaller than himselfNote the extraordinary diversity of gazelles, antelopes, oryx, buffalo and ibexes, which form the main portion of animals present. But smaller game can also be found, porcupine or hare. A lioness is even represented. Men hunt all this game with bow and arrow, or are shown capturing the wild animals with the lasso. Three of the hunters are named, they represents the sons of Djehutyhotep.

In the last register at the bottom, wild bulls seem to be directed into a kind of enclosure by men wearing in their hair ostrich feathers, like soldiers.

Notice that all these scenes are placed between two great vertical representations of nets, which shows well that the live capture of animals was also an important activity.

By delimiting this scene, which refers to a hostile (the desert) environment and a disorganised (savage animals) environment, these nets also have the major role of magic protection against the forces of disorder, which are thus contained.

The tomb of Djehutyhotep "Great Chief of the Hare Nome"

osirisnet.net