False door

A typical false door from the tomb of the Egyptian official Izi. The deceased is shown above the central niche in front of a table of offerings, and inscriptions listing offerings for the deceased are carved along the side panels. Louvre Museum.

A false door, also known as a recessed niche or fake door, is an artistic representation of a door which does not function like a real door. They can be carved into a wall or painted on it. They are a common architectural element in the tombs of ancient Egypt, but appeared possibly earlier in some Pre-Nuragic Sardinian tombs known as Domus de Janas. Later, they also occurred in Etruscan tombs and in the time of ancient Rome they were used in the interiors of both houses and tombs.