ticketsMember | Make a donation

Stela of the Gatekeeper Maati

First Intermediate Period
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 104
Maati is shown seated in front of an offering table with a jar for a sacred oil in his left hand. The text on this masterpiece of early Middle Kingdom relief art contains references to other prominent figures of the time, including Maati's overseer, the treasurer Bebi, who later became a vizier, and an ancestor of the ruling family called Intef "the Great." The inscriptions demonstrate the close ties that bound together rulers and followers in Theban of the time.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Stela of the Gatekeeper Maati
  • Period: First Intermediate Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 11
  • Reign: reign of Mentuhotep II, early
  • Date: ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes; Probably from Tarif
  • Medium: Limestone
  • Dimensions: L: 59 cm (23 1/4 in.), H: 36.3 cm (14 5/16 in.), D: 8 cm (3 1/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1914
  • Object Number: 14.2.7
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 3280. Funerary Stela of the Gatekeeper Maati

3280. Funerary Stela of the Gatekeeper Maati

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Sarcophagus of the Hathor Priestess Henhenet, Limestone, sandstone, paint
Sarcophagus of the Hathor Priestess Henhenet
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
Relief of an Acacia Tree Shading Water Jars with Drinking Cups, Limestone, paint
Relief of an Acacia Tree Shading Water Jars with Drinking Cups
ca. 2051–2030 B.C.
Mastaba Tomb of Perneb, Limestone, paint
Mastaba Tomb of Perneb
ca. 2381–2323 B.C.
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: West Wall, Limestone, paint
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: West Wall
ca. 2446–2389 B.C.
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: North Wall, Limestone, paint
Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: North Wall
ca. 2446–2389 B.C.

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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.