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Egypt in the Middle Kingdom (2030–1640 B.C.)

• 
  Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (detail), Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11, ca. 2051–2000 b.c.
  Egyptian
  Painted limestone

  H. 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm)
  Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1907 (07.230.2)

• 
  Scribes from Meketre's model granary, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reign of Amenemhat I, ca. 1975 b.c.
  Egyptian; From the tomb of Meketre, western Thebes
  Plastered and painted wood

  H. of right-hand figure 6 1/6 in. (15.5 cm)
  Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1920 (20.3.11)

• 
  Statuette of a Hippopotamus, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, ca. 1981–1885 b.c.
  Egyptian; Middle Egypt, Meir
  Faience

  H. 4 3/8 in. (11.2 cm), L. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm)
  Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1917 (17.9.1)

• 
  Cosmetic Jar in the Form of a Cat, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, ca. 1991–1783 b.c.
  Egyptian
  Egyptian alabaster (calcite) with inlaid eyes of rock crystal and copper

  H. 5 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
  Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1990 (1990.59.1)

• 
  Guardian figure in the form of King Amenemhat II, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reign of Amenemhat II, ca. 1919–1885 b.c.
  Egyptian
  Painted wood

  H. 22 7/8 in. (55.5 cm)
  Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1914 (14.3.17)

• 
  Pectoral of Princess Sit-Hathor-yunet (detail), Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reigns of Senwosret II–Amenemhat III, ca. 1887–1813 B.C.
  Egyptian; From Lahun
  Gold, carnelian, feldspar, garnet, turquoise

  W. of pectoral 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
  Rogers Fund and Henry Walters Gift, 1916 (16.1.3)

• 
  Face of Senwosret III, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reign of Senwosret III, ca. 1878–1840 b.c.
  Egyptian
  Quartzite

  H. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm)
  Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 (26.7.1394)

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Carved in a distinctive Theban style also seen in the tombs of Mentuhotep's officials, these now-fragmentary reliefs are among the finest ever produced in Egypt.

Related

Timelines (2)

• Egypt, 8000–2000 B.C.
• Egypt, 2000–1000 B.C.

Primary Thematic Essays (5)

• Egypt in the Late Period (ca. 712–332 b.c.)
• Egypt in the New Kingdom (ca.1550–1070 b.c.)
• Egypt in the Old Kingdom (ca. 2649–2150 b.c.)
• Egyptian Tombs: Life Along the Nile
• List of Rulers of Ancient Egypt and Nubia

Other Thematic Essays (12)

• Africans in Ancient Greek Art
• Egyptian Red Gold
• Kings and Queens of Ancient Egypt
• List of Rulers of Ancient Sudan
• Minoan Crete
• Prehistoric Cypriot Art and Culture
• The Private Tombs North of the Senwosret III Pyramid Complex, Dahshur
• The Pyramid Complex of Senwosret III in the Cemeteries of Dahshur
• Queens and Princesses in the Pyramid Complex of Senwosret III, Dahshur
• The Temples of Senwosret III at Dahshur
• The Tomb of Wah
• Tutankhamun's Funeral

Maps (1)

• World, 8000–2000 b.c.

Index Terms (11)

Art Movement/Style

• Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt in the 1st Intermediate Period
• Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom
• Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt in the Middle Kingdom

Geography/Place

• Egypt
• Sudan

Material and Technique

• Plaster
• Sculpture in the Round from Egypt and Western North America

Object

• Funerary Architecture from Africa and Egypt

Subject Matter/Theme

• Archaeology from Africa and Egypt
• Hieroglyphs
• Ruler from Egypt

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The Middle Kingdom (mid-Dynasty 11–Dynasty 13, ca. 2030–1640 B.C.) began when Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II reunited Upper and Lower Egypt, setting the stage for a second great flowering of Egyptian culture. Thebes came into prominence for the first time, serving as capital and artistic center during Dynasty 11. The outstanding monument of this dynasty was Mentuhotep's mortuary complex, loosely modeled on the funerary monuments of his Theban ancestors. Built on a grand scale against the spectacular sheer cliffs of western Thebes, Mentuhotep's complex centered on a terraced temple with pillared porticoes. The masterful design, representing a perfect union of architecture and landscape unique for its time, included painted reliefs of ceremonial scenes and hieroglyphic texts. Carved in a distinctive Theban style also seen in the tombs of Mentuhotep's officials, these now-fragmentary reliefs are among the finest ever produced in Egypt.

At the end of Dynasty 11, the throne passed to a new family with the accession of Amenemhat I, who moved the capital north to Itj-tawy, near modern Lisht. Strongly influenced by the statuary and reliefs from nearby Old Kingdom monuments in the Memphite region, the artists of Dynasty 12 created a new aesthetic style. The distinctive works of this period are a series of royal statues that reflect a subtle change in the Egyptian concept of kingship.

Catharine H. Roehrig Department of Egyptian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Citation Roehrig, Catharine H. "Egypt in the Middle Kingdom (2030–1640 B.C.)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mking/hd_mking.htm (October 2000) Further Reading D'Auria, Sue, Peter Lacovara, and Catharine H. Roehrig. Mummies & Magic: The Funerary Arts of Ancient Egypt. Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1988. Hayes, William C. The Scepter of Egypt: A Background for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1953-59. Schulz, Regine, and Matthias Seidel, eds. Egypt: The World of the Pharaohs. Cologne: Könemann, 1998. Related exhibitions and online features Special Exhibitions (including upcoming, current, and past exhibitions) Egyptian Art at Eton College: Selections from the Myers Museum Reconstruction and Reinstallation of the Egyptian Art Galleries Other Online Features The Art of Ancient Egypt: A Resource for Educators

These related Museum Bulletin or Journal articles may or may not represent the most current scholarship. Jánosi, Peter. "Montuhotep-Nebtawyre and Amenemhat I: Observations on the Early Twelfth Dynasty in Egypt": The Metropolitan Museum Journal, v. 45 (2010) Roehrig, Catharine H. "Life along the Nile: Three Egyptians of Ancient Thebes." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 60, no. 1 (Summer, 2002). JSTOR | PDF Fay, Biri. "Egyptian Duck Flasks of Blue Anhydrite." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 33 (1998). JSTOR | PDF Hill, Marsha and Deborah Schorsch. "A Bronze Statuette of Thutmose III." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 32 (1997). JSTOR | PDF Arnold, Dorothea. "An Egyptian Bestiary." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 52, no. 4 (Spring, 1995). JSTOR | PDF | Supplemental PDFs "Director's Note" PDF "Introduction" PDF Arnold, Dorothea. "Amenemhat I and the Early Twelfth Dynasty at Thebes." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 26 (1991). JSTOR | PDF Habachi, Labib. "The Gneiss Sphinx of Sesostris III: Counterpart and Provenance." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vols. 19–20 (1984–85). JSTOR | PDF Dorman, Peter, Edna R. Russmann, and Christine Lilyquist. "Egyptian Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 41, no. 3 (Winter, 1983–84). JSTOR | PDF | Supplemental PDFs "Curator's Forward" PDF "Director's Note" PDF Fischer, Henry George. "Offering Stands from the Pyramid of Amenemhet I." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 7 (1973). JSTOR | PDF Fischer, Henry George. "Sunshades of the Marketplace." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 6 (1972). JSTOR | PDF Aldred, Cyril. "Some Royal Portraits of the Middle Kingdom in Ancient Egypt." Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 3 (1970). JSTOR | PDF Fischer, Henry George. "The Gallatin Egyptian Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 25, no. 7 (March, 1967). JSTOR | PDF Fischer, Henry George. "Two Royal Monuments of the Middle Kingdom Restored." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 22, no. 7 (March, 1964) JSTOR | PDF Young, Eric. "Sculptors' Models or Votives?: In Defense of a Scholarly Tradition." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 22, no. 7 (March, 1964) JSTOR | PDF Scott, Nora E. "Egyptian Jewelry." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 22, no. 7 (March, 1964) Fischer, Henry George. "A Foreman of Stoneworkers and His Family." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New ser., v. 17, no. 6 (February, 1959) JSTOR | PDF