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Statue of a Priest of Amun

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

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.

MEDIUM Diorite
  • Place Made: Thebes, Egypt
  • DATES 381-362 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 30
    PERIOD Late Period
    DIMENSIONS 20 1/16 x 6 1/4 x 5 1/2 in., 30 lb. (51 x 15.9 x 14 cm, 13.61kg) Mount: 6 x 6 x 6 in. (15.2 x 15.2 x 15.2 cm) height of object on block: 26 1/4 in. (66.7 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 52.89
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    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.
    CAPTION Statue of a Priest of Amun, 381-362 B.C.E. Diorite, 20 1/16 x 6 1/4 x 5 1/2 in., 30 lb. (51 x 15.9 x 14 cm, 13.61kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 52.89. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 52.89_view2_SL4.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 52.89_view2_SL4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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