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Stela of Senres and Hormose

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Both this funerary stela and the adjacent one, illustrate a popular Dynasty 18 type. The rounded top represents the sun's path across the dome of the sky. A pair of wedjat-eyes—symbols of the sun and moon as well as of wholeness—frame a shen-ring, representing the sun's universal, cyclical course. The stela's owner Senres is shown sniffing a lotus, an emblem of eternal rebirth, while accepting food offerings. Senres's wife, Hormes, is depicted grasping his arm in a gesture of intimacy. The offering prayer below ends by stating that Hormes commissioned this stela for her husband.

MEDIUM Limestone
  • Place Made: Upper Egypt, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1539-1425 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 16 7/8 x 8 5/16 x 1 5/8 in. (42.9 x 21.1 x 4.2 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 07.420
    CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Round top limestone funerary stela of the attendant Sn(.j?)-rs'(.w) (Senresew) and his wife Hr-ms' (Hormes) seated before a small table of offerings. Five lines of hieroglyphic text below comprising conventional offering formula.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Stela of Senres and Hormose, ca. 1539-1425 B.C.E. Limestone, 16 7/8 x 8 5/16 x 1 5/8 in. (42.9 x 21.1 x 4.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 07.420. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 07.420_SL3.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 07.420_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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