A Study of the Sacred District Scene in Private Tomb Decoration (GHP EGYPTOLOGY 37)

REVIEW BY ROGER FORSHAW This Golden House Publication is a meticulous study of a distinct wall scene found in numerous private tombs, particularly during the New Kingdom. Kelly-Anne Diamond refers to it as ‘the Sacred District’, a map-like illustration depicting a landscape that includes trees, ponds, shrines, and garden plots. At first glance, the panorama appears to be a garden scene, but it is imaginative: it is an illustration of a mythologised realm ostensibly located on the west bank of Thebes. It is not a typical tomb garden, and its significance has been a source of debate. The author has made a detailed investigation of nearly 40 tombs that incorporate these scenes from T