The Tomb of Djehutinakht at Deir el-Bersha. Hall. Ceiling.
Ceiling decoration

Reconstruction with Griffith Institute Watercolours

In the ancient Egyptian tombs of the elite it was customary to decorate the walls with scenes of daily life, especially those which illustrated agriculture and industry. Depictions of funerary rites or worshipping of gods assisted the tomb owner's transition to the Afterlife, and vignettes showing the deceased hunting and feasting emphasise their intention to continue enjoying the benefits of their elevated status for eternity.

It is usual to find at the top of walls framing scenes, dedicatory inscriptions and kheker-friezes, and sometimes decoration was extended to the ceiling as well. Attractive ceiling designs included architectural elements painted to imitate wood or hard stone such as granite, both prohibitively expensive building materials, animal and plant motifs repeated multiple times within a chequerboard style grid arrangement, or even grapevine canopies 'growing' across the chamber.