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Yuny and his wife, Renenutet
Asyut, early Dynasty 19, late reign of Sety--early reign of Ramesses II,
ca. 1290-1270 B.C.
Limestone, h. 2 ft. 10 in.
Rogers Fund, 1915
15.2.1

These figures, more than half lifesize, represent Yuny seated next to his wife, Renenutet. Yuny, who lived in the city of Asyut, was a chief royal scribe and holder of many other offices, including perhaps that of physician. Additional inscriptions on the base of the statue further elaborate Yuny's responsibilities. On the center fold of Yuny's pleated skirt is an inscription that reads "May everything that comes forth upon the offering table of [the god] . . . and all pure food that comes forth from the Great Enclosure [the temple complex at Heliopolis] be for the chief scribe, royal scribe of letters, Yuny, justified."

Renenutet affectionately places her right arm around her husband's shoulders. On the back of the statue she is described as a chantress, or temple-ritual singer, of Amun-Re. In her left hand she holds by its metal counterweight a heavy bead necklace called a menat. Menat necklaces were ritual implements that were held in the hands and shaken like sistrums, especially in the service of the goddess Hathor.

Appropriate to their high secular and religious positions, Yuny and Renenutet wear the elaborate wigs and fine linen attire fashionable in their time. Maintaining the pleats in Yuny's linen skirt and shirt must have required frequent pressing by servants. Renenutet is adorned with a lotus fillet and a broad collar necklace, which in reality would have been of faience and, perhaps, gold. The beads are in the shape of nefer symbols (See Hieroglyphs Frequently Used for Royal Identification), offering vases, and floral petals. Traces of black remain on the wigs. The couple sit together on a bench with elegantly carved lion-paw feet.

Note the pleasing contrast of intricately worked details with smooth surfaces. The almond shapes of the figures' eyes emphasized by incised outlines echo the ovals of their faces, and the curves of the figures' forms soften their formal and frontal pose. Also noteworthy is the difference in the two faces: the eyes are almost identical, but Yuny's cheekbones are much more prominent, his nose, as can be seen, is fleshier, and the corners of his mouth are embedded deeper in skin folds. All this makes his face look more mature and individualized. The effect of the two similar but distinctly differentiated heads side by side but at different heights makes this image of a couple unforgettable.

On the back of the chair in both sunk and raised relief are two scenes illustrating the ancient Egyptian ideal of affection and remembrance among generations of a family. In the upper register Yuny and Renenutet receive offerings from their son; in the lower, Renenutet offers food and drink to her parents.

Notice: details, family relationships

Discuss: status symbols, the variety of carving, what is rounded, what is squared

Compare: Nikare and his family and stela of a Middle Kingdom official

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