Stela of Merneptah
This round-topped stela with a solid red border is dedicated to a man named Merneptah. He is shown seated on a block seat, which resembles a throne often used by a king or a deity, rather than a more common four-legged chair. He is dressed in a long wraparound skirt, which the artist has rendered as a sheer garment in order to reveal the short kilt underneath. Merneptah holds a water lily blossom, a symbol of regeneration, up to his face. Immediately in front of his legs is a table laden with bread loaves and a bundle of green onions. A woman named Ina stands before him and holds up a branch, an unusual object in this context. Above the two figures are a pair of wedjat eyes and a shen sign, all of which have protective meanings. The three lines of inscription at the bottom of the stela include an offering formula that invokes the god Osiris.
Artwork Details
- Title: Stela of Merneptah
- Period: Middle Kingdom–Second Intermediate Period
- Dynasty: Dynasty 13–17
- Date: ca. 1802–1550 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Limestone, paint
- Dimensions: H. 28.8 cm (11 5/16 in.); W. 14.4 cm (5 11/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904
- Object Number: 04.2.533
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
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