In search of the royal harem: A discussion on the Malkata palace rooms interpretation

Abstract

Part of the Malkata Palace is commonly referred to in literature as the harem, based on the fact that this area of the palace contains eight identical units that have a sandstone container, interpreted as a bathtub. This contribution seeks to challenge this interpretation and show that no conclusive data exists to unequivocally assert that this was the area of the royal harem.

Keywords

• Malkata
• Palace
• Harem
• Bathroom
• Decorative patterns