Every door is basically an
entrance to a certain place, right? No, wrong. The Egyptian False doors
function contrary to this basic purpose of doors. The ancient Egyptian
civilization is known for its rich architecture. Monumental miracles such as
pyramids and giant sculptures of Kings and Gods made it an attractive site for
archaeologists around the world. Among these awe-inspiring structures were the
rather mythical false doors.
As the name suggests, a false
door is an imitation of a door usually found in mortuary temples and tombs
across ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the false door was a
threshold between the worlds of the living and the dead and through which a
deity or the spirit of the deceased could enter and exit. They are given the
name because spiritual entities of the deceased were believed to have the
ability to pass through the door. The false door was usually the focus of a
tomb's offering chapel, where family members could place offerings for the
deceased on a special offering slab placed in front of the door. Most false
doors are found on the west wall of a funerary chapel or offering chamber
because the Ancient Egyptians associated the west with the land of the dead.
A false door usually is carved
from a single block of stone or plank of wood. The narrow panel and molding
were set inside a rectangular frame, often topped by a rectangular panel
decorated with an image of the deceased sitting in front of an offering table. These
doors served the spiritual beliefs of ancient Egyptians.
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