Collection
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Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Male Statuette

ca. 3800–3650 B.C.E.

1 of 5

Object Label

This flat, extremely elongated figure wears only a penis sheath. The arms, now mostly lost, originally extended down along the figure’s body. Inlays of another material once filled the vacant eyeholes.

Caption

Male Statuette, ca. 3800–3650 B.C.E.. Ivory, 11/16 x 7 1/16 in. (1.8 x 17.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 35.1268. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Male Statuette

Date

ca. 3800–3650 B.C.E.

Period

Predynastic Period, early Naqada I Period

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Ivory

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

11/16 x 7 1/16 in. (1.8 x 17.9 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

35.1268

Frequent Art Questions

  • Why's this guy so long?!

    We're not sure. This figure dates to the earliest part of Egyptian civilization referred to as the "Predynastic Period;" it predates writing and many of the iconographic or spiritual beliefs we know of Egyptian civilization. It may be because of the material itself. The shape and size may have been restricted by the shape and size of the tusk it was made from.

  • Tell me more.

    Not many people ask about this statuette from very early in ancient Egyptian history. The inlaid eyes were likely made from lapis lazuli, a brilliant blue stone that had to be imported from Afghanistan.
    It's possible that this statuette was related to the cult of the god Min, a fertility god represented as a nude male. Min was very popular in certain regions of early Egypt and remained important for thousands of years.

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