I came across this picture of a statue of Amenope and his wife Hathor this evening.
It’s a fairly typical New Kingdom statue of an aristocratic couple, but it made me think about the limits of the archaeological record.
As I looked at them sitting next to each other in a polite display of conjugal affection, I found myself starting to wonder what Amenope and his wife were like in real life. Was he a bore? Was she a nag? Did they comfort each other through life’s innumerable storms, or did they quietly grow apart? Were they happy with their lives, or did they want something more?
Egyptology has taught us a great many things about the ancient Egyptians. But, alas, some things will always remain lost in the past.
Codex Lochianus 