Sunk Relief Fragment with the Place Name Semenu
The block preserves part of a larger scale vertical inscription in sunk relief reading from left to right. The style of the relief indicates a Middle Kingdom date, and the quality of the limestone is consistent with that used in at Lisht. A findspot for fragment is not recorded, but the relief appears on a photo with other reliefs from Lisht taken at The Met in 1950.
At the top of the fragment are parts of the feet, tail, and wingtip of an owl-sign. Below is a hieroglyph with three overlapping duck-signs facing in different directions. Below is half of the determinative indicating a place name, and to the right a stroke-sign. The curving line along the bottom edge may be an ankh-(life)-sign. On the right side of the piece is a roughly cut geometric pattern indicating a wall corner. The inscription seems to indicate something “in Sumenu,” a town in Upper Egypt south of present-day Luxor that was home to a cult of the crocodile god Sobek
At the top of the fragment are parts of the feet, tail, and wingtip of an owl-sign. Below is a hieroglyph with three overlapping duck-signs facing in different directions. Below is half of the determinative indicating a place name, and to the right a stroke-sign. The curving line along the bottom edge may be an ankh-(life)-sign. On the right side of the piece is a roughly cut geometric pattern indicating a wall corner. The inscription seems to indicate something “in Sumenu,” a town in Upper Egypt south of present-day Luxor that was home to a cult of the crocodile god Sobek
Artwork Details
- Title: Sunk Relief Fragment with the Place Name Semenu
- Period: Middle Kingdom
- Dynasty: Dynasty 12
- Reign: reign of Senwosret I
- Date: ca. 1971–1926 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht South, Pyramid complex of Senwosret I, pyramid temple, MMA excavations
- Medium: Limestone
- Dimensions: H. 30.5 × W. 32.3 × D. 12.5 cm, 20.2 kg (12 × 12 11/16 × 4 15/16 in., 44.5 lb.)
- Credit Line: Lent by Columbia University, New York
- Object Number: 2025.334.7
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 1971–1926 B.C.
Cypriot
3rd century BCE
ca. 1971–1926 B.C.
Greek, South Italian, Tarentine
ca. 325–300 BCE
ca. 2030–1640 B.C.
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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.