Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Stela of the Porter of the Temple Heku
Middle Kingdom
Not on view
This object is not part of The Met collection. It was in the Museum for a special exhibition and has been returned to the lender.
The chief interest of this stela lies in the prominent inscription deeply cut into the bottom by the "sculptor Nefertem," perhaps the name of the artist. Although Egyptian artists rarely signed their creations, other examples of "signatures" exist. The stela itself belonged to the porter of the temple Heku, depicted in the upper left facing his son Ptahwenenef. Below are two women, Tanetetni and Neferu, perhaps the wives of the men.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
