Accession Number
1988/1.97.1-2

Title
Pharaoh's Bed, Island of Philae

Artist(s)
Francis Frith

Artist Nationality
British (modern)

Object Creation Date
1857

Medium & Support
albumen print on paper

Dimensions
12 3/16 in x 16 7/8 in (31 cm x 42.9 cm);14 in x 18 in (35.56 cm x 45.72 cm);12 3/16 in x 16 7/8 in (31 cm x 42.9 cm);6 5/16 in x 9 in (16.1 cm x 22.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Frederick P. and Amy McCombs Currier

Subject matter
This image depicts the Kiosk of Trajan, commonly called the Pharaoh's Bed, on the Egyptian island of Philae, above the Nile River. The structure has fourteen columns with carved floral capitals and the interior is decorated with carvings of Trajan burning incense before the Egyptian gods Osiris and Isis. The landscape, spotted with palm trees and other plants, offers a sense of the fecundity of the Nile River Valley, a thematic and visual contrast with the ancient mortuary architecture.

Physical Description
An open-air brick structure with columns on all four sides sits atop a small plateau surrounded by flora above the shore of a body of water.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Egypt
Ruins
archaeological sites
bed
columns
columns (architectural elements)
hills
islands (landforms)
kiosks
palm tree
rivers
temples (institutions)
travel photography