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Relief of King Sobekhotep III

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
This relief depicts Sobekhotep III offering vessels to the goddesses Satis and Anukis (left and right, respectively). This was a common motif of temple decoration. The king, who theoretically conducts the cult’s rituals in every temple every day, offers to deities who in turn bless him and, through him, Egypt. Both goddesses extend to the king three “life” hieroglyphs (the ankh). This relief probably formed part of a naos, or shrine for a cult image. The scenes, devoid of indications of time or setting, intend to convey a timeless and universal religious truth.
MEDIUM Quartzite
DATES ca. 1744-1741 B.C.E.
DYNASTY Dynasty 13
PERIOD Second Intermediate Period
DIMENSIONS 63 1/2 x 66 x 4 in., 765 lb. (161.3 x 167.6 x 10.2 cm, 347kg)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 77.194a-c
CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
PROVENANCE Siheil (Sehel), Egypt; before 1893, removed by unidentified agent; between 1893 and 1926, provenance not yet documented; before 1926, acquired by Andre Bircher of Cairo, Egypt; between 1926 and 1946, provenance not yet documented; by 1946, acquired by M.H. Dufour of Cairo, Egypt; between 1946 and 1977, provenance not yet documented; by 1977, acquired by Roger Khawam of Cairo, Egypt and France; 1977, purchased from Roger Khawam by the Brooklyn Museum.
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MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
CAPTION Relief of King Sobekhotep III, ca. 1744-1741 B.C.E. Quartzite, 63 1/2 x 66 x 4 in., 765 lb. (161.3 x 167.6 x 10.2 cm, 347kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 77.194a-c. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 77.194_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 77.194_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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