Relief Fragment Possibly from a Scene with Foreigners
Middle Kingdom
The identification of the elements on this fragment is uncertain, as is its orientation. Two outstretched hands painted black are shown in different positions, a color which may indicate that Nubians are depicted here; Egyptians are normally painted either red (male) or yellow (female). To one side of the hands is an unidentified black and red object. A black line was painted across the background of the fragment near the fingertips. If the hands belong to representations of Nubians, the fragment could have originated from a scene of the king receiving tribute or foreign captives.
The fragment is rendered in sunk relief, which was traditionally used on exterior decoration, but in the Twelfth Dynasty is also found on interior scenes.
