 |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Summary of This Activity |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
How do we know when
this relief was made? |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
Funerary Stela of Intef and Senettekh
Limestone
First Intermediate Period–Middle Kingdom, Dynasty
11, reigns of Intef II–III or very early in the
reign of Montuhotep II (circa 2065–2000 B.C.)
Possibly from Qurnah in western Thebes
13 7/8 x 11 5/8 in. (35.3
x 29.6 cm)
54.66, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Ancient Egyptian artists did
not always date their work, so Egyptologists often use stylistic
clues to determine when objects were made. Knowing when an object
was created helps us connect it to events and people and, therefore,
to better understand history. Artists from specific periods
depicted various details in particular ways, making many works
products of their time. Details of this stela tell us how Egyptologists
associate this object with a specific period (circa 2065–2000
B.C.) during the 11th Dynasty. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The sign for “born of”
was only drawn in this stylized way during the 11th Dynasty. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The fact that the deceased
man was named “Intef” also dates the stela to the
11th Dynasty, when many kings were named Intef. Ancient Egyptians
were commonly named after the reigning or recently reigning
kings. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Several features of Senettekh’s
figure characterize early 11th Dynasty relief: her hand gesture,
the carving of each of her fingers, her full lips, almond-shaped
eyes (with long, flaring cosmetic lines), and unnaturally placed
ears. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Early 11th Dynasty art is known
for the kind of meticulous treatment of details seen in the
delicate carving of this kilt. Keep in mind that this stela
is only about 11 1/2 inches tall, so these details
are quite small. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Although dogs were undoubtedly
present in households throughout ancient Egyptian history, they
are most often depicted with their owners in works from the
First Intermediate Period, which includes the first half of
the 11th Dynasty. One Egyptologist has suggested that in the
First Intermediate Period—an unstable, lawless time—dogs
provided protection for their owners. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
The decorative “fringe”
shown on the bench leg convinced BMA Curator James Romano that
the date of this stela could be narrowed down to the reign of
Intef II, Intef III, or early in the reign of Montuhotep II.
This motif does not appear in works from any other period in
ancient Egyptian history. |
|
