This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 152
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A newly published statue found at Gisr el-Mudir (Saqqara) in 2021 has revealed an unusual family portrait. The 100cm-high limestone figure depicts a nobleman standing in a typical Old Kingdom stance with his left foot forward, but also includes images of two women. His wife appears kneeling down, holding her husband’s right leg, in a depiction similar to the royal statue of the Fourth Dynasty king Djedefra. But the inclusion of a daughter in bas-relief behind her father’s left leg is, so far, unique. The exact date of the statue is uncertain due to a lack of provenance, but a similar statue in the Brooklyn Museum is known to be from the Fifth Dynasty; however, this depicts a man with his wife and son, both carved in the round.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: Zahi Hawass, www.hawasszahi.com
