Scenes from a King's Thirty-Year Jubilee
After thirty years on the throne, the pharaoh celebrated a jubilee intended magically to rejuvenate the divine yet vulnerable monarch. This fragmentary relief, which formed part of a series of scenes depicting these complex and enigmatic rituals, was intended for a royal cult structure at a pyramid. In the main preserved register, the goddess Meret chants "Come and bring" to the pharaoh, whose large running figure would have been depicted beyond the broken left edge of the block. The standard-bearer who preceded him remains, and courtiers with their titles inscribed above complete the scene.
Like most of the royal Old Kingdom royal reliefs in this collection, this block was excavated at a Middle Kingdom pyramid site where it had been reused in the inner structure. Such blocks can be assigned to the Old Kingdom by their inscriptions or style. Although no royal name identifies the pharaoh here, the straight edges contouring the relief elements and the height of the carving suggest that the work dates from the reign of Snefru.
Like most of the royal Old Kingdom royal reliefs in this collection, this block was excavated at a Middle Kingdom pyramid site where it had been reused in the inner structure. Such blocks can be assigned to the Old Kingdom by their inscriptions or style. Although no royal name identifies the pharaoh here, the straight edges contouring the relief elements and the height of the carving suggest that the work dates from the reign of Snefru.
Artwork Details
- Title: Scenes from a King's Thirty-Year Jubilee
- Period: Old Kingdom
- Dynasty: Dynasty 4
- Reign: reign of Snefru, probably
- Date: ca. 2575–2551 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Pyramid Complex of Amenemhat I, north of pyramid (09.180.180; core (22.1.1), MMA excavations, 1908–09; 1920–22
- Medium: Limestone, paint
- Dimensions: H. 73.7 cm (29 in.); W. 149.9 cm (59 in.); D. 12.9 cm (5 1/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1909 (09.180.18); Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1922 (22.1.1)
- Object Number: 09.180.18
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.