Ancient Egyptian model boat from Beni Hasan dated 2055 – 1985 BC

Wooden funerary model boat, with five figures and a canopy with oars. Made up from several items by the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Archaeology in 1920. Items from Beni Hasan. The model comprises a wooden boat (along the top edge of the side of are a series of holes – possibly damage/possible to hold part of the original top. There are also holes in the top of the boat, some have been ‘refilled’ with figures/maintain original figures? some have been ignored.) On the deck of this boat from bow to stern) have been fixed a pole/mast at the very front, closely behind which stands a figure with arms flung backwards wearing an attached linen kilt. A little way further back, are a group of three figures of varying heights, one of has feet. Behind these figures is a Canopy (painted to look like cow hide?) on six wooden strutts, under which is a kneeling/seated figure, and into which are propped two oars. Behind that is a standing figure, and behind him is a tall mast, with a paddle affixed. Except for the figure in the stern of the boat (which has a yellow body) all the other figures are painted with red skin, short white kilts and with black hair and facial features. The arms of all the figures are pivoted on wooden set through their shoulders (except for the seated figure which has no arms left.) The figures vary in their condition. Some of the items have modern black numbers on them: Canopy-700, An Oar-261 (another Oar-250?), The kneeling/seated figure-522, a Standing figure-718. (probably tomb or excavation no.s.)
Colour: red & black & white & yellow.

There is a copper printing plate of the boat – 2012.45.2.

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1920.10.1
  • Material: cord linen pigment wood
  • Culture: Dynasty 11
  • Period: Middle Kingdom
  • Excavator: John Garstang
  • Dated: 2055 - 1985 BC
  • Object name: model boat
  • Dimensions: Length (as displayed): 490mm , Width (as displayed): 150mm , Height (as displayed): 400mm , Length (paddle 1): 270mm , Width (paddle 1): 20mm , Depth (paddle 1): 5mm , Length (paddle 2): 260mm , Widt
  • Site: Beni Hasan
  • Latitude: 27.933333
  • Longitude: 30.883333