Bust of a Priest

This limestone bust depicts a priest in a cream-coloured tunic, and is believed to date from the Ptolemaic Period, 130-30 B.C.

The facial details are sublimely realistic and show an older man with deep frown lines, a downturned mouth and almond eyes. The collar bone protruding and the jowls of the jawline and loosened skin of the neck showcase the talent and detail the sculptor or sculptors went through to create a realistic portrait.

Extremely similar to portraits of Senwosret III from the Middle Kingdom, or work by the king’s favourite sculptor Thutmose from the Amarna age, this bust demonstrates the talent and skill of the Egyptian artisans who spanned the entire age of the Dynastic Egypt.

From the early beginnings to the very late days of the Egyptian empire, the latter from which it is believed this sculpture was created in, Egyptian artists and sculptors have left vast evidence that showcases, they were able to stick to a rigid formula of art and sculpture, as well as present a more natural depiction, comparable to the famous sculptors of later centuries.

The bust is broken below the chest, with the remaining part of the sculpture measuring at 12.3 cm in height with a 10 cm width.

Bust of a Priest. Musée du Louvre. E 25374

Priests played an important role in Ancient Egypt. The priesthood
was responsible for ensuring the earth and heavens remained as
the gods created them. Priests accomplished this through a series
of rituals, they performed each day in the temple. Members of the
priesthood performed these ceremonies in the name of the King.
Many people served as part-time priests in their local temples
and were rewarded for their service with a share of the food and
drink offered to the gods. The king may have been involved in
the naming of some high-ranking priests, especially to politically
powerful positions. Many priestly positions were passed down
from father to son.
Priests in Ancient Egypt were very different from our modern
priests. They were solely focused on specific temple tasks and did
not serve as spiritual advisers. Some Egyptians were considered
priests simply because they had undergone training in rites that
enabled them to perform certain technical tasks in the temples.
These men were considered priests, even if they did not have full
access to all parts of the temple.
The structure of the priesthood became larger as temples grew
in size and rituals became more complex. As the priesthood grew,
it became more divided by rank, and the roles of individual priests
became more specialized. Often, positions were held by up to
four individuals, each of whom served for one month and then
returned to their secular lives until it was their turn to serve as
a priest again. Many priests only worked in the temple for three
months a year.
As temples became more and more powerful, the priests began
to take a more active role in the appointment process. By the
Middle Kingdom (2055 to 1650 B.C.), people began to purchase
priest positions. Positions in the priesthood were valued because
of the wealth and power associated with them.

Egyptian Priesthood (PDF by the Albany Institute of History & Art)

Priests would partake in daily and nightly rituals and preserve a high sense of cleanliness, which included shaving their heads bald and possibly other body parts, for the ritualistic health and cleanliness of themselves but more importantly to be cleansed and virtuous in order to be in the company of the deities of whom they were priests of.

The priesthood was usually hereditary, meaning that familial lineage would more often than not indicate whether a son or daughter would become a priest or priestess of a certain cult and/or work at the temples. Therefore, the priesthood and their families held significant financial power and even political influence in Egyptian society, so much so, that the power of the priesthood eventually led to the High Priests of Amun overpowering the monarchy and essentially becoming the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c. 943 B.C.