Piankoff's Epigraphy In The Tomb Of Ramesses

Much epigraphy is still necessary in the tombs of the Valley of the Kings. In the cases where photography is appropriate, namely in well-preserved tombs, it is an adequate epigraphic method, particularly with the rapid technological advances of our time. Nevertheless, inclusions of figures such as line drawings, facsimiles, and paleographic renderings are also important. Not to say that this is feasible for every photograph or ever decorative scene, but in the case of damaged walls, these other epigraphic methods could illuminate details that would otherwise remain unknown.
Beyond epigraphic work, introductions should place the tomb in its context, giving background information on its discovery, excavation, etc., as well as some history about the occupant, and describe the wall decorations. All the above publications do this, and I believe it is standard practice. At this point in time, most of the funerary literature found in, at …show more content…
Perhaps including a vast number of colored plates, on the scale of Piankoff’s volume, is not always feasible, due to cost constraints. However, presenting the most prominent or important images in a volume and maintaining a digital website could cut costs and continue to make these images available. Of the four publications discussed here, the bound format of Hornung’s The Tomb of Pharaoh Seti I is the most efficient in terms of cohesion of text, plan, and plates. Captioning plates is a must, in my opinion and while not necessary, cross-refencing between plan and plates is extremely useful. I believe all the details I have put forth in the consideration of an ideal publication are feasible today. Perhaps they would be costlier, particularly in terms of printing color images, but, it is, nevertheless, worth