First-of-its-Kind Egyptian Family Statue Discovered in Saqqara

Egyptian household statue discovered successful Gisr el-Mudir, Saqqara. Credit: Zahi Hawass

A survey successful The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology has elaborate the find of a uncommon Egyptian household statue successful Saqqara, dissimilar immoderate antecedently known from the Old Kingdom. The limestone piece, unearthed successful 2021 astatine Gisr el-Mudir, has present been analyzed by Egyptologists Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr. Sarah Abdoh.

The statue shows a nobleman lasting upright with his near ft forward, a stance symbolizing vitality and strength. He wears a short, locked wig and a half-pleated kilt. The sculptor carved his torso with precision, highlighting the shoulders, chest, and arms.

Wife depicted successful a acquainted kneeling pose

At the nobleman’s side, a smaller pistillate kneels against his close leg. She wears a shoulder-length wig, a wide collar, and a sheath dress. Scholars judge she represents his wife, pursuing a airs communal successful household statues. A akin country appears successful the statue of Djedefre, wherever the queen clings to her hubby successful the aforesaid way.

Daughter shown successful bas-relief with a symbolic goose

The astir antithetic diagnostic of the portion is the 3rd figure, a young girl. Unlike different Egyptian household statues, she is carved successful bas-relief alternatively than successful the round. Positioned down her father’s near leg, she extends 1 limb to grasp it portion holding a goose successful her different hand. Researchers construe the goose arsenic a awesome of provisions for the afterlife.

Dr. Hawass explained that portion specified images often appeared successful tomb partition scenes, nary past successful this burial. The daughter’s fig whitethorn person served arsenic a substitute for these missing depictions.

Looting near the statue without context

The statue was recovered buried successful the sands of Gisr el-Mudir, without a wide archaeological context. Researchers judge it was abandoned by looters who plundered adjacent tombs. This nonaccomplishment of discourse analyzable efforts to find its date.

Links to the 5th Dynasty done the Irukaptah statue

To constrictive the timeframe, scholars compared the portion with known examples. The closest lucifer is the statue of Irukaptah, present successful the Brooklyn Museum, besides excavated astatine Saqqara and dated to the 5th Dynasty. Both works stock akin scale, proportions, clothing, and wigs.

There are notable differences. In the Irukaptah statue, the woman is positioned connected the other side, and the lad is carved afloat successful the round. By contrast, the Gisr el-Mudir statue shows the girl successful bas-relief.

Based connected the parallels, researchers reason the Gisr el-Mudir statue dates to the 5th Dynasty. Its antithetic portrayal of the girl marks the archetypal known Old Kingdom household statue to picture a fig successful bas-relief, distinguishing it arsenic a unsocial enactment of ancient Egyptian art.