Ensuring Eternity – the Dual Representational Role of the Artist-Ritualist in Middle Kingdom Egypt

Performative skills of ancient Egyptian artists in ritual context have already been observed for the Old Kingdom (Chauvet 2015). With this paper, we offer to tackle the topic for Middle Kingdom Egypt with, as a starting point, the case of Horameniankhu. In a recent paper (Devillers & Sykora 2023), we showcased the exceptionality of his visual self-presentations in the chapel of the nomarch Djehutihotep at Deir el-Bersha. Here, the artist effectively blends his function as the chief decorator of the tomb with those of a funerary officiant. This case will be the starting point to investigate which other ritualists are depicted in the same tomb and how they compare to the chief decorator, visually and contextually. To properly ascertain the “raison d’être” of the inclusion of these people in the decorative program of the funerary chapel, we develop on their precise role: i.e. their involvement in the activation of Djehutihotep’s tomb as an effective space that enables the transfiguration of the deceased. We will then compare the role of Horamenyankhu within the religious landscape of Deir el-Bersha with other artists depicted in neighboring necropoleis. This will give us an opportunity to explore other relevant examples of ancient Egyptian artists involved in the creation of a “perfect burial” for their commissioner(s), both physically and ritually.