Funerary Stele of a Noble Lady

This relief was found near a plundered tomb in the immediate vicinity of one of the palaces (Hilani I) on the castle hill in Samal. The stele, originally set on a plinth, shows a scene that can be understood in terms of a funerary cult. On the picture surface, enclosed by a narrow band, an eating scene is represented, with a winged solar disc hovering above: the deceased sits on a throne in front of a table with food on it, and facing her stands a servan, shown significantly smaller. The jewellery at the neck, arms and ankles of the principal figure, who holds a drinking vessel and a flower in her hands, suggests that it may represent a member of the royal household possibly the queen herself. She wears a robe reaching down to her ankles, shoes on her feet, and on her head is a close-fitting cap decorated with a rosette band that falls down to her back. An unusual feature is the fibula shown above her left breast. On the small folding table is food, including flatbread and a fish. The companion figure in a long robe, holding a curved knife in the left hand, is cooling the seated figure with a fan.