Four Foreign Rulers, Tomb of Puyemre 1473 BC

Norman de Garis Davies made this painted plaster relief of four foreign rulers in around 1935, copying the original mural from the tomb of Puyemre. This image presents a fascinating insight into how ancient Egyptian society perceived those beyond its borders. Puyemre was an important official during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut in the 15th century BC, a period of relative peace and prosperity. The original mural in his tomb reflects a worldview where Egypt is at the centre of the world, with foreign rulers shown bearing gifts as a symbol of their submission. The visual codes – clothing, skin tone, and facial features – signal the rulers' foreign origins. What can we learn from this image? Well, by studying the historical context, the social structures, and the visual language, we can start to understand the politics of imagery. Art history relies on sources such as archaeological records, inscriptions, and comparative studies of similar images to understand the cultural meanings of the artwork.