A Falcon Flying Protectively over the Pharaoh's Head

Middle Kingdom

ca. 2020–2000 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 104

The temple of Mentuhotep II at Deir el-Bahri combined innovative building ideas with a relief decoration that was largely based on prototypes from the Old Kingdom pyramid temples in the Memphite area. Utterly destroyed by stone robbers in antiquity, this decoration was preserved in thousands of fragments. The piece here was put together from several relief fragments and features a flying falcon. Two hieroglyphs on the very left are parts of its name "The one from Behdet." Above the bird is a star band and the bottom of a kheker-frieze from the very top of the wall. This piece was originally situated above a depiction of the king, who is often shown protected by a falcon or vulture.

Artwork Details

Overview

Translation

Provenance

References

Title: A Falcon Flying Protectively over the Pharaoh's Head
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dynasty: Dynasty 11
Reign: reign of Mentuhotep II, later
Date: ca. 2020–2000 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Temple of Mentuhotep II, Egypt Exploration Fund excavations, 1907
Medium: Limestone, paint
Dimensions: A. 107 cm x 52 cm
Credit Line: Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1906
Object Number: 06.1231.40a
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Relief Fragments from a Large Figure of Mentuhotep II, Limestone, paint — Relief Fragments from a Large Figure of Mentuhotep II
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.

Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II and the Goddess Hathor, Limestone, paint — Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II and the Goddess Hathor
ca. 2010–2000 B.C.

Relief Fragment with Parts of Heads of Prisoners, Limestone, paint — Relief Fragment with Parts of Heads of Prisoners
ca. 2030–2000 B.C.

Relief from the Tomb of Nespekashuty, Limestone, paint — Relief from the Tomb of Nespekashuty
656–650 BC

Relief depicting the head of a scribe, Limestone, paint — Relief depicting the head of a scribe
ca. 2010–2000 B.C. or ca. 2000–1981 B.C.

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