Ancient Egyptians believed that goods included in burials had real effects on the afterlife of the deceased. Therefore, tombs were full of items designed to help guarantee the soul’s safe passage to the afterlife. Mortuary chapels were created to maintain a connection to the dead through offerings. One of the most significant pieces of artwork in Egyptian tombs was the still-life paintings created in honor of the dead and their usage in the afterlife. These paintings, distinctive in style, depicted individuals giving offerings to gods to ease deceased person’s passage.
Decorative stelas in Egypt depicted individuals giving offerings to the gods for the same purpose. The focus of ancient Egyptian religion was to protect the body after death, which is why the Egyptians used mummification to preserve the body and soul of the deceased. Still life, considered the “touchstone of painting” by Édouard Manet, was a crucial component in Egyptian artwork. The paintings were created to ensure the deceased’s safe passage to the afterlife by depicting various offerings made to the gods.
