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Head of a King, Probably Khafre, Wearing the White Crown

Old Kingdom
ca. 2520–2494 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 103
This exquisitely carved king has intricately inlaid eyes, a partially preserved beard, and a long white crown, broken near the top. The inlaid eyes give it a sense of immediacy, liveliness, and even monumentality despite its small size. The head has been identified as a representation of the Fourth Dynasty Pharaoh Khafre, who built the second pyramid at Giza, based on comparison to a royal head wearing a red crown now in the Ägyptisches Museum, Universität, Leipzig (1947). The latter head was excavated just outside the valley temple of Khafre’s pyramid complex at Giza, along with other pieces of small statues made of the same stone.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Head of a King, Probably Khafre, Wearing the White Crown
  • Period: Old Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 4
  • Reign: reign of Khafre
  • Date: ca. 2520–2494 B.C.
  • Medium: Limestone, cupreous metal, possibly paint, probably obsidian (pupil), stone(sclera)
  • Dimensions: H. 7.5 × W. 3.2 × D. 5.2 cm (2 15/16 × 1 1/4 × 2 1/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
  • Object Number: 2021.41.80
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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