Unusual sun in Tomb of Meryre

ref.: "Rainbows" by George B. Johnson, October 15, 2000

A scene in the Amarna tomb of Meryre, south wall, east side, shows Akhenaten and Nefertiti offering to an unusual representation of the sun. N. de G. Davies proposes that this represents the setting sun. (Davies, The Rock Tombs of El Amarna, Part I, p 30; & plate XXII.) It is also proposed--by whom I cannot recall--that it may represent a rainbow. To my knowledge this is the only scene in Egyptian art that may represent a rainbow.
I photographed the scene with high contrast color film several years ago and some colors may still be seen. Davies notes blue, green and an unknown color in the bands. The unknown color may have been red, but the photograph was not able to detect any of the third color.

George B. Johnson
gbjohnson@ohiohills.com


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