Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Donation Stela

ca. 804 B.C.E.

1 of 12

Object Label

This stela, which once stood in or near a temple, commemorates a donation of land to that temple, and its text promises dire punishments to anyone misappropriating the land. In modern times the media have made much of Egyptian curses, especially that of King Tutankhamun's tomb. That curse was in fact an invention of a newspaper reporter, inspired by the sudden death of Lord Carnarvon, the sponsor of the archaeological expedition, several months after he attended the opening of the tomb in 1922. Nevertheless, the ancient Egyptians did aim curses against tomb and temple violators, and they believed it was magic (heqa) in the form of written and spoken words that made those curses possible and effective.

Caption

Donation Stela, ca. 804 B.C.E.. Limestone, 20 1/2 x 12 3/4 x 2 1/2 in., 41 lb. (52.1 x 32.4 x 6.4 cm, 18.6kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 67.118. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Donation Stela

Date

ca. 804 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 22

Period

Third Intermediate Period

Geography

Place found: Mendes, Egypt

Medium

Limestone

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

20 1/2 x 12 3/4 x 2 1/2 in., 41 lb. (52.1 x 32.4 x 6.4 cm, 18.6kg)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

67.118

Frequent Art Questions

  • What's this?

    You're looking at "Donation Stela with a Curse" from the Third Intermediate Period. A stela (stelae, plural) is just a standing slab, usually with carved relief or inscriptions on it. In the Egyptian culture, as in most cultures, stelae usually had commemorative or funerary purposes.
    As you may have read on the label it is a representation of the Libyan chieftain Hornakht accompanied by the flute player Ankh-hor-pa-khered, making donation of a field of 10 acres to Harpocrates, a representation of Horus as a child.

  • What is this?

    This stela is a donation from a Libyan chieftain named Hornakht to the god Horus in the form of a child.
    Hornakht is shown second from the right presenting a tray with offerings of maat feathers, symbols of truth, justice, and balance. Behind him is a flute player named Ankh-hor-pa-khered.
    The child depicted is Horus (also known as Harpocrates when he is a child). Behind him is his father, Osiris, followed by two more deities, Ba-nebdjedet, and Hatmehyt.

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