Through the Eras

2350–2338 Princess Watetkhethor commissions artiststo decorate one entire wall of her tombwith the funeral dance, including detailsof its execution.IMPORTANT EVENTSin DanceAll dates in this chronology are approximations (c.) andoccur before the common era (B.C.E.).3500–3300 Statuettes and paintings on pots buried ingraves represent dancers performing a funeraldance, the earliest known representationsof such dances. Ostriches aredepicted dancing in the desert.2500–2170 More Old Kingdom tombs include scenesof dance. Tombs of the high officials Tiand Kagemni include scenes of dancingmonkeys.2415–2371 Traders bring an African pygmy to dancein Egypt in the reign of Djedkare Isesy.2371–2350 First example of Pyramid Text 310 whichpriests recite or sing during the muudanceat the beginning of a funeral.2350–2170 The funeral priest Khnumhotep describesdancing the heby-dance in an inscriptionon his statue.2338–2298 The Pyramid Texts carved in Pepy I’spyramid include the liturgy for the kingto perform the “Dance of the God” whileimitating a pygmy.2286 The boy king, Pepi II, sends a royal decreeto his expedition leader, Harkhuf,thanking him for the gift of a dancingpygmy.1844–1837 A list written on papyrus enumeratestwelve dancers’ names and the many festivalswhere they perform.1539–1075 Artists regularly depict dancers in scenesof funerary banquets.1539–1514 A hymn dedicated to King Ahmose refersto ostriches dancing in the desert.1352–1336 Dancing ostriches are depicted in KingAkhenaten’s tomb.945–712 Horihotep serves as chief dancer of thegoddess Bastet, a little-known title thatsuggests increased interest in dancing aspart of divine worship.381–343 Pawenhatef dances the heby-dance for thecult of the Apis bull.64 Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.)