Five significant features in Old Kingdom spear-fishing and fowling scenes

This paper will examine a number of features consistently represented in scenes where the King or tomb owner is shown as a major figure spearing fish or catching fowl in the marshlands of Egypt. Analysis of Old Kingdom marsh scenes from the Memphite and provincial cemeteries identified five important features and are as follows: the type of kilt, wig and headdress worn by the major figure; the rendering of the umbels in the papyrus thicket; the shape of the papyrus boat; and the arrangement of the water weed in the scene. This paper aims to analyse each feature to establish whether the different types of wigs, garments or changes in the details of Old Kingdom spearfishing and fowling scenes are the result of chronological development, variations due to the tomb’s geographical location or specific to an individual tomb.