Image Details

Jürgen Liepe

Galloping at full speed, an Egyptian chariot driven by Tutankhamun (1347–1337 B.C.E.) attacks a Cushite regiment, on this painted wooden casket from the pharaoh’s tomb. Impaled, decapitated and trampled, the Cushites fall in a heap before the well-organized Egyptian army, shown in three tiers, at right.

Among the most vivid Egyptian depictions of warfare, the paintings on both sides of this casket celebrate Egypt’s triumph over its enemies to the south—the Cushites—and to the north—the Syrians, who are shown suffering an equally brutal defeat on the opposite side of the casket (compare with detail of painted wooden casket).