Basketry sandals of woven reeds. MFA 03.1720-1721.

Although it might seem unusual, you can learn about life in ancient Egypt from the monuments of death. The Egyptians considered death an altered continuation of life, not an ending. They believed that what they loved in this life they could take to the next life. To do this they equipped their tombs with scenes, images, tools, and objects of material comfort that they enjoyed. The objects from tomb excavations are varied--ceramics, footwear, razor blades and tweezers, furniture, wheeled toys, gloves, chariots, bread, and jewelry. In the afterlife the deceased could use these objects. It didn't matter if it was an actual object. A real ceramic wine vessel was just as good as a ritual one. A tiny model, or even a two-dimensional vessel carved or painted on the tomb wall, would do. Once represented, the objects were present and accounted for forever in the afterlife.