Sunk Relief, inscribed for Ptahshepses, called Impy, Superintendent of the palace and his family, c. 2400 BC-c. 2250 BC Sculpture Egyptian, 3rd millennium BC Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty, c.2374-2191 BC Limestone, in two pieces 32.4 cm h x 94 cm w x 7 cm d Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette Rodney Kelekian in memory of George and Ilse Hanfmann, 1993.222 Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art Description Egyptian official Ptahshepses, also called Impy, is depicted twice flanking an offering formula written in hieroglyphs on this limestone funerary relief: at left striding, with his three daughters, Keretet, Ity and Tuit, “whom he loves,” as the inscription above them attests, standing behind him; at right he appears with his wife Hatkau and his eldest son Impy II. In both instances he wears a short kilt and holds a staff and scepter, though he is shown with two different headdresses. Re-View Exhibition, Spring 2008, gallery label information: Funerary Relief of the Official Ptahshepses, also called Impy Egyptian, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 6, c. 2374–2150 BC Probably from Saqqara Limestone Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette Rodney Kelekian in memory of George and Ilse Hanfmann, 1993.222.A–B This sunk relief probably formed a door lintel of the mastaba, or funerary chapel, of Ptahshepses, also called Impy, in the great necropolis of Saqqara in Lower Egypt. The mastaba’s owner, a palace superintendent, is represented on either side of an offering formula written in hieroglyphs. In each instance he wears a short kilt and holds a staff and a scepter, but his headdresses differ. As is typical for Egyptian reliefs and paintings, the chest of the human figure is shown frontally, and the head and legs in profile. Hieroglyphs identify Ptahshepses’ three daughters “whom he loves” on the left side, and his wife and his son, Impy II, on the right. Inside the mastaba, other reliefs depicted food offerings, serving the needs of the deceased in perpetuity.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 16:42:36 +0000
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