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Papyrus
boats with cabins and steering oars constituted the
primary method of transportation throughout the Egyptian
period. It was, therefore, believed that the gods themselves
travelled in such boats, particularly the sun god Re,
depicted in this design as a solar disc. According to
mythology, Re possessed two barques, Mandjet and Mesektet
- the boats of morning and evening respectively. The
inclusion of small model barques in tombs during many
periods was common, possibly representing the intended
or actual journey of the deceased to the holy site of
Abydos.
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