Stela of Ba
ca. 1539–1425 B.C.E.
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Object Label
The owner of this funerary stela, a man named Ba, is shown sitting in front of an offering table and sniffing a lotus while receiving a libation. According to the text, the stela was a gift, presumably from Ba’s son, Mes, who is depicted between his parents. Because the image of Ba is in the center, the right side of the composition is so crowded that the female attendant seems to be pouring liquid onto Ba’s feet. Her extreme slenderness is typical of early Dynasty 18 figures.
Caption
Stela of Ba, ca. 1539–1425 B.C.E.. Limestone, 15 3/8 x 9 3/8 x 2 1/4 in. (39 x 23.8 x 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Jack A. Josephson in honor of Bernard V. Bothmer, 85.113. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
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Gallery
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Frequent Art Questions
What are these?
These stelae show deceased individuals receiving offerings of food that their souls needed in order to have a successful and comfortable afterlife.
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