The statue of a priest of Amun shown here has an idealizing face in the style of the fourth century B.C. yet wears a Twenty-sixth Dynasty version of an Old Kingdom wig and is based typologically on Twenty-sixth Dynasty sculptures inspired by much earlier works. Despite these archaizing tendencies, it also displays a Thirtieth Dynasty innovation in statuary: the depiction of gods (here Amun, Mut, and Khonsu) on the top of the back pillar. Idealization is equally apparent in the two heads and the small statuette of Hor. The latter has some distinction. It is the earliest reasonably well dated sculpture with an egg-shaped cranium, an artistic detail that became common in the fourth century B.C.
Catalogue Description:
Statue in polished black stone (diorite?) of a standing man, name lost, a priest of Amen. Conventional composition, left leg advanced, arms at sides with hands clenching small,, cylindrical staffs; plain kilt, curled wig. Deep rear pillar bearing at top relief of the Theban Triad followed by three columns and one line of epithets of triad. Below are three incomplete columns of inscriptions of deceased. Base and lower legs missing. All surfaces, except wig, polished
Condition: Legs missing below knees. Otherwise intact.
