Swimming Cattle Relief

3D Model

This fragment of a swimming cattle relief that was found on a tomb dates from the First Intermediate Period and is made of limestone. The First Intermediate Period was a time of political collapse in Egypt as a result of the low inundation of the Nile caused by a drought in central Africa. In spite of the political and social situation of the time, it is of fine workmanship demonstrating that the tomb owner had access to the finest artists who were still available. This motif was very common in the Old Kingdom. The scene usually begins with a calf in a boat. The cattle are following the calf led by the mother who is trying to reach her young. This was the common method used to lure cattle to cross bodies of water in ancient Egypt.

Date: 2195-2066 BCE

3D model created in RealityCapture and Blender from 96 images taken on a Canon 5D Mark III by Joshua Norman.