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Stela with Images of Ears and Ram Head of Amun

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Stela of Ptahmay portrays him standing before a table with offerings and presenting flowers and incense. His devotion is directed to the statues of Amun-Re and a gander, labeled “beautiful gander, great of love.” Another example of personal piety, Stela with Images of Ears, ensures that Amun hears the prayers. Here, the ram’s head of Amun and four ears can be read as “Amun is the one who hears what should be heard.” While this ram represents the fertile aspect of Amun, the gander refers to Amun’s creation of the egg from which the sun was born.
MEDIUM Wood, mud plaster, pigment
  • Reportedly From: Thebes, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1292-1070 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 19 to Dynasty 20
    PERIOD New Kingdom, Ramesside Period
    DIMENSIONS 6 5/16 x 3 1/4 x 3/8 in. (16 x 8.3 x 1 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1534E
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Wooden stela inscribed in the lunette with the name of Amun and a ram's head, below this is a row of four left ears, and beneath this two lines of cursive hieroglyphs. Condition: Very poor, chipped and surface laminating. Many vertical cracks, surface has powdered away in spots. Bits chipped out around edges; an especially large piece above on right. Has been broken in two vertically and repaired. Back has mud plaster over it.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Stela with Images of Ears and Ram Head of Amun, ca. 1292-1070 B.C.E. Wood, mud plaster, pigment, 6 5/16 x 3 1/4 x 3/8 in. (16 x 8.3 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1534E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.37.1534E_wwgA-2.jpg)
    IMAGE installation, West Wing gallery A-2 installation, CUR.37.1534E_wwgA-2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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