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A Prince of Tekhet

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
Tekhet was a district in Nubia, just south of the ancient Egyptian border. In the Eighteenth Dynasty, Tekhet’s ruling princes, who had family ties to the nearby Aswan nobility, were buried in Egyptian-style tombs. The text on the back pillar of this tomb statue calls the subject a “Prince of Tekhet,” but his name is not preserved. He was a Nubian prince, but is shown as an Egyptian because he adopted Egyptian culture. Statues from this period were not portraits, but rather reflections of contemporaneous Egyptian style. The prince’s heavily made-up eyes, elegantly arched brows, pleasant expression, very full wig, and short chin beard all typify aesthetics of the time.
CULTURES Egyptian; Nubian
MEDIUM Limestone
  • Possible Place Made: Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1479-1400 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 7 1/8 x 5 7/8 x 4 5/16 in. (18.1 x 14.9 x 10.9 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 66.1
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Bust of a male statue preserved to middle of upper chest and arms. Echeloned wig. Deep back pillar ending just below base of neck and wig, inscribed in four columns with offering formula for a Great One of Tekhet, whose name is lost. Yellow limestone male bust preserved down to middle of upper arms and chest. Man wears wide, deep, valanced wig with stylized echeloned curls. Plastic eyebrows and cosmetic lines, fine nose, small mouth, short beard. Deep back pillar ends just below base of neck and wig, bears four cols. of inscr. with offering formula for a wr n T;hh.t whose name is lost. Sculpture slightly out of alignment. Condition: Broken and mended at front of lower chest; nose and beard chipped.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Egyptian. A Prince of Tekhet, ca. 1479-1400 B.C.E. Limestone, 7 1/8 x 5 7/8 x 4 5/16 in. (18.1 x 14.9 x 10.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 66.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.66.1_erg456.jpg)
    IMAGE in situ, CUR.66.1_erg456.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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