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Stela of Maaty and Dedwi

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
The sculptor who carved this colorful funerary stela of the official Maaty and his wife, Dedwi, lived during the First Intermediate Period. At this time, the centralized royal government of the Old Kingdom had given way to local rulers, isolating provincial artists from the artistic traditions of the royal court. They developed local styles which, as on this stela, tended to be simple but lively.
MEDIUM Limestone, pigment
  • Possible Place Collected: Naga ed-Deir, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 2170-2008 B.C.E.
    PERIOD First Intermediate Period
    DIMENSIONS 28 7/16 x 20 1/2 x 2 1/16 in. (72.3 x 52.1 x 5.3 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 39.1
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented, probably from Naga ed-Deir, Egypt; by 1939, acquired by Dikran Kelekian of New York, NY; 1939, purchased from Dikran Kelekian by the Brooklyn Museum.
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    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Limestone funerary stela of Maat (?) and his wife Ddwi (Ddw), brilliantly painted mainly in red, pale green and yellow. Oblong, vertical form with conventional border on sides of painted oblongs and on top a border of similar panels with rounded tops. The lower part of the stela is occupied by Maat standing with a plain staff before a conventional group of offerings. Behind him stands his wife. The upper part of the stela is occupied by five lines of hieroglyphs. Below these and directly over the woman are three short columns of hieroglyphs. Translation of the five lines: 1) An offering which the King gives, (and) Anubis upon his mountain, 2) who is in the place of embalming, lord of the necropolis in all his beautiful 3) places; funerary offerings of bread and beer (?) for the Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, Sole Companion, 4) Overseer of the Prison (or fortress), M3c.t. Beloved of 5) his lord, who does what his lord praises every day, 6) His beloved wife, Sole Royal Ornament, Dd.w.”.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Stela of Maaty and Dedwi, ca. 2170-2008 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 28 7/16 x 20 1/2 x 2 1/16 in. (72.3 x 52.1 x 5.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 39.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 39.1_reference_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 39.1_reference_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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