Funerary tile. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Empire. Dynasty III, reign of Djoser, ca. 2630-2611 BC.

Funerary tile. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Empire. Dynasty III, reign of Djoser, ca. 2630-2611 BC.
Fayenza.
Provenance: Memphite region, Saqqara, pyramid complex of Djoser.

This faience tile belongs to the set of wall coverings used in the funerary complex of King Djoser, the first pharaoh of Dynasty III and a key figure in the beginning of the Ancient Empire.

These pieces were part of the decoration of the subway galleries located under the pyramid and other structures of the enclosure, where they were arranged between carved limestone elements. Their function was to recreate, by means of a durable material, the appearance of the vegetal mats that covered the walls of the royal palaces, thus transferring to the funerary environment an idealized image of the earthly residence of the pharaoh.

The intense greenish blue tonality, characteristic of Egyptian faience, not only responds to aesthetic criteria, but also has a symbolic meaning associated with regeneration, fertility and eternal life.

Overall, the piece is an exceptional testimony to the first stone architecture of Ancient Egypt and the desire to create eternal spaces for the afterlife.