3-057-302 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Egyptian ships, c1500 BC. These pictures, redrawn from stone reliefs on the tomb of Hatshepsut at Deir-el-Bahri, depict an Egyptian trading voyage to the land of 'Punt', possibly Ethiopia.The ships are clearly seagoing vessels, larger than the Nile felucca. On the left, sails are shown furled at the harbourside, while on the right the huge sails are being used as well as the oars. The hieroglyphic text describes the cargo, consisting of ebony, ivory, gold and a live panther.