The History Place - Mummies: Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt - British Museum; Bowers Museum

UPPER PART OF THE STATUE OF A MAN
Limestone

Mid 18th Dynasty, about 1500 BC
The name of the owner of this statue is regrettably not preserved, as only the very beginning of an inscription has survived. This text would in full have expressed a wish for offerings to be left for the owner, perhaps in a temple. It shows a man seated with (originally) both his hands placed on his lap. The style of the statue with its long simple wig, short formal beard, and faint confident smile is typical of the middle of the 18th Dynasty, perhaps of the reign of Thutmose III or thereabouts. Note the so-called 'negative space' between the upper arms and the body, as the arms and legs of Egyptian statues in stone are rarely separated from the main block which forms the body of the object. Although statues such as this were usually brightly painted, there are no traces of color surviving.

NEXT IMAGE | Slide Show Index

All images reproduced by permission of the Trustees of the British Museum. Informational text provided by the British Museum.

The History Place Terms of Use: Private home/school non-commercial, non-Internet re-usage only is allowed of any text, graphics, photos, audio clips, other electronic files or materials from The History Place™