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Djehuti

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

The man portrayed here, a scribe by profession, was appropriately named after the god of writing. The inscriptions on the sculpture, which was placed in a temple or chapel, include an appeal to "all mortuary priests and scribes who see this statue" to recite a standard offering formula for Djehuty. The recitation of the words would help ensure that Djehuty would magically benefit from the offerings described, during his lifetime and in the afterlife.

MEDIUM Limestone
  • Reportedly From: Thebes, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1539-1390 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY early Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 16 5/8 × 14 3/16 × 12 13/16 in., 100 lb. (42.2 × 36 × 32.5 cm, 45.36kg)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 37.30E
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Limestone statue of Djehuti represented as a scribe, seated with his legs folded under him. Djehuti wears a short kilt and the equipment of a scribe, which is represented in relief as if it were slung over his shoulder. Incised lines indicate the folds of skin on his abdomen. On his lap he holds a partially unrolled papyrus with plain incised and modified sunk relief hieroglyphs. The plinth on which he sits is rounded. Hieroglyphs appear on the top front of the plinth and on the front of the plinth. The hieroglyphs on the front are more crudely done than those on the rest of the figure. Condition: Chipped and scratched; inscription partially preserved.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Djehuti, ca. 1539-1390 B.C.E. Limestone, 16 5/8 × 14 3/16 × 12 13/16 in., 100 lb. (42.2 × 36 × 32.5 cm, 45.36kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.30E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.30E_threequarter_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE threequarter, 37.30E_threequarter_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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