Brickmakers Getting Water from a Pool, Tomb of Rekhmire 1479 BC

Nina de Garis Davies created this artwork of brickmakers getting water from a pool, a facsimile of a painting in the Tomb of Rekhmire. Here, the pool is a powerful symbol: water, the essence of life and purity in the arid landscape of ancient Egypt. Notice the brickmakers’ movements as they collect water. This is no mere practical activity, but a rhythmic ritual, which echoes the cyclical nature of life itself. The water-collecting motif reminds me of the water bearers depicted in Minoan frescoes. It calls to mind images of the nymph at the source of a river or a woman carrying an amphora, gestures of life-giving and nurturing. These symbols transcend mere representation; they tap into the collective unconscious. Through this, we engage with primal, shared experiences, reminding us of our deep connection to the past. The emotional power of these symbols lies in their ability to connect us to the eternal cycle of life and death, a cycle that continues to unfold across cultures and centuries.