Donation Stela of Shebitqo
From the Third Intermediate Period through the Saite Period a large number of stelae are preserved that, like this one, record the donation of land to temples. These give an unusually rich view into temple and land organization. Most often non-royal persons actually made the gift, and the gift was probably destined for the support of the donor's funerary cult. The donation was generally made through an intermediary somehow attached to the temple and who must have derived some benefit for his agency. For reasons of decorum, usually the reigning king was depicted as the official donor in the scene at the top. Probably because of the nature of land development, almost all such stelae relate to areas in the north of the country.
This donation stele shows the pharaoh Shebitqo offering two nw-jars to Horus and Hathor. The pharaoh Shebitqo acts on behalf of a local ruler of the eastern Delta, termed the prince, royal son, Chief of the Meshwesh and priest of Horus of Pharbaetos, Patjenef, who stands behind him. Although Shebitqo wears no distinctive Kushite regalia, Patjenef wears on his head the horizontal feather of the Meshwesh.
This donation stele shows the pharaoh Shebitqo offering two nw-jars to Horus and Hathor. The pharaoh Shebitqo acts on behalf of a local ruler of the eastern Delta, termed the prince, royal son, Chief of the Meshwesh and priest of Horus of Pharbaetos, Patjenef, who stands behind him. Although Shebitqo wears no distinctive Kushite regalia, Patjenef wears on his head the horizontal feather of the Meshwesh.
Artwork Details
- Title: Donation Stela of Shebitqo
- Period: Third Intermediate Period
- Dynasty: Dynasty 25 (Kushite)
- Reign: reign of Shebitqo
- Date: ca. 707–690 BC
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Limestone
- Dimensions: h. 30.5 cm (12 in); w. 31.1 cm (12 1/4 in); th. 6 cm (2 3/8 in)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1965
- Object Number: 65.45
- 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.
400–200 B.C.
278–270 B.C.
300–250 B.C.
ca. 690–650 B.C.
525–404 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 complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.