Seated Statue of the Nomarch Idu II of Dendera

Old Kingdom
ca. 2246–2152 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 100
Discovered in his mastaba tomb at Dendera, this statue represents the nomarch (governor) of a province of Upper Egypt during the late Old Kingdom. This man, Idu II, wielded considerable power during the long reign of Pepi II, the last king of Dynasty 6. Created by a provincial artist, the figure has very large eyes and somewhat unconventional proportions, and is seated on a high-backed chair instead of the more common block seat. He wears a shoulder-length curled wig and a short kilt adorned by a beaded apron, indicated by a triangle on the front of the skirt. Traces of the original color — black for the wig and chair, red for the skin, and white for the kilt, are still visible.

Since only fragments of the statues buried in the tomb of Perneb have been preserved (see 14.7.105-.107), this statue of Idu II is displayed in Perneb's serdab (statue chamber).

Link to the Artist Project
Sarah Sze on the Tomb of Perneb

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Seated Statue of the Nomarch Idu II of Dendera
  • Period: Old Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 6
  • Reign: reign of Pepi II
  • Date: ca. 2246–2152 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Northern Upper Egypt, Dendera, Tomb of Idu II, Pit, Egypt Exploration Fund excavations, 1898
  • Medium: Limestone, traces of pigment
  • Dimensions: H: 60.5 cm (23 13/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898
  • Object Number: 98.4.9
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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