Erich Lessing

Egyptian sailors journey to the African land of Punt, probably located on the Red Sea coast of modern Eritrea, in this painted limestone block from Deir el-Bahri (compare with photo of Parehu relief block). At the supposed command of Amun-Ra, the queen sent an expedition to bring back an assortment of riches: incense trees, ivory, cattle, giraffes and gold. Numerous scenes from the temple’s second terrace depict aspects of the voyage to Punt (which means “land of the god”) as well as the people the Egyptians encountered there.