Hi Jon,

That's a wonderful pic. I've spent a lot of time trying to reproduce on computer the details of this faux textile pattern in Unas' pyramid. I wish I had your pic before. Do you have one that shows the west wall? It's more faded out.

The idea of game pieces for the one pattern in question seems reasonable, but how does it fit into the overall textile theme for the 'tent' part of the burial chamber? Just because there is a checkerboard pattern below the 'gaming pieces' doesn't account for the vertical parts of this same checkerboard pattern that don't have the game pieces.

I found here, [www.gutenberg.org] an old illustration from Maspero (scroll down almost to the bottom of the page) which is titled the stele of Situ IVth Dynasty. I am not at all sure that this is really a Dyn 4 stele, but it does show both the 'flower' figures and the 'game' objects.

I think that the items that look like gaming pieces could simply be tassels. The theme is to reproduce traditional weaving patterns and I'm having a hard time fitting in a senet game-like element in this. Would it make sense for the king to take risks in his burial chamber? I think this is very unlikely . . . everything is scripted and the outcome is certain, not a gamble.

I vote for tassels, not game pieces.

Ken

Update: I see my link doesn't work. I'll try to fix it later.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2007 02:16PM by Ken B.