A collection of nine thematic essays on the culture of the Middle Kingdom and Second Intermediate period, focusing on mortuary stelae, inscriptions, burials and coffin decoration. More specifically, it includes papers on 'Principles of decoration on Middle Kingdom stelae'; 'The Mitre inscriptions on coffins of the Middle Kingdom'; 'Remarks on the Temple of Heqet and a sarcastic letter from el-Lahun'; 'Some remarks on the development of rishi coffins'; 'An unfinished Late Middle Kingdom stela from Abydos'.