The scenes are separate from the register below. It contains only a floral display of
lotus blossoms in its upper part and a blue and white design below.
These are bordered above and below with bright red motifs interrupted by
dark red ones, the decorator obviously used the motifs which he thought
worth viewing.
Khonsu and a woman (possibly his mother) were seated (now lost) in front
of a table of offerings on which three tall lighted tapers (candles)
separated by two cone-shaped lamps the
association between these cones made of grease (or tallow) with wicks
and the slim taper ones. The red bands on them, which can be seen here,
are probably made from another colourful grease, but they could also be
bands of cloth intended to hold the structure together when burning. The
aim of the scene is two-fold: the tapers serves to bring light, the wax
candle to bring the lasting smell of smoke, which doesn't however
replace that of the incense since, as here, there is often found a
priest making the incensing close by. In the 18th Dynasty, a priest can
often be seen carrying two candles in the setting of the ritual of the
light offering to the deceased, in order that he can find his path in
the obscurity of the necropolis. The significance given to the process
evolved during the time and the amalgam between light and fumigation was
made. Progressively the custom instituted itself for the deceased's
friends to bring between two to five lighted candles and cones, for
light and odour, this last did not however replace traditional
incensement.
Here, we therefore have three candles and two cone
blocks, apparently, placed on a table, and a person named Pahesy (the
name is uncertain) who plays the role of lector priest, making the
libation and the incensement, as indicated by the text:
"Making incensement and libation to the Osiris, the high-priest of Thutmosis III (?), Khonsu". He is followed by four women who are there to assist him.
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