Researchers have been able to identify the birds depicted in a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art found in a palace. The images of the natural world created a relaxing area in the palace.
It was found at the location of the capital city of Pharaoh Akhenaten. The palace of Meritaten, daughter of the pharaoh and Nefertiti, was found in 1924. The Green Room has a rare depiction of birds in a marsh with no humans in sight.
The paintings are considered to be masterpieces of ancient Egyptian art.
The images have not received much attention. Not all of the bird species in the art have been identified.
You would think that the art of the Green Room would get a lot of attention. The original plaster panels may not have survived. The painting was damaged when attempts were made to conserve it.
The birds of the Green Room were identified by Dr. Stimpson and Prof. Kemp. They used modern ornithological data and a high-quality copy of the artwork made in 1924 to identify the birds. Their work can be found in antiquity.
Shrikes and wagtails were identified by the researchers. Previous work identified the birds. The artists may have included hints for ancient birdwatchers, as migrant birds are annotated with a triangle.
The artwork shows a pigeon problem from ancient Egypt. Rock pigeons are depicted but are not native to the papyrus marshes.
Pigeons were attracted to the area by humans.
The researchers think the artists may have included these birds in order to make the scene look wilder and untamed. The Green Room is thought to have been made relaxing by the images of the natural world.
The Green Room was most likely a place of rest and relaxation. The Green Room may have been enhanced by the visions of nature. Today, the calming effects of the natural world are more important than they were in the past.
Christopher M. Stimpson and his colleagues wrote about the birds of the Green Room in antiquity. Aqy.2022. 159 is a DOI.
Journal information: Antiquity
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