Lady Hel
“everything that comes forth in the presence of the gods of Memphis for the Osiris, the lady Hel…”, “one who makes music for (her) lady”,
This seated limestone statue of a woman, called Lady Hel, was seemingly made to be placed within a tomb chapel in Saqqara. We can tell this statue was intended for such a location due to the back of the statue being left rather unkempt in comparison to the delicate carving of the front and sides. Therefore, it is thought this statue would have been placed ‘back to the wall’. It measures, 112 x 52 x 35 cm.
Museo Egizio. Cat. 7352
Lady Hel smiles forth into eternity with traces of pigment still left upon her lips, decorating her smile to this very day. She wears a long plaited wig adorned with a lotus blossom upon her forehead. She wears a floor length, likely linen dress and holds a lotus flower in one hand and a menat necklace within the other, held up against her chest.
In ancient Egyptian religion, a menat (Ancient Egyptian: mnj.t (𓏠𓈖𓇋𓏏𓋧), Arabic: منات) was a necklace closely associated with the goddess Hathor. The menat was held in the hand by its counterpoise and used as a rattle by Hathor’s priestesses. It was also worn as a protective amulet, particularly by Apis bulls.
The necklace was meant to ensure good luck and fortune and to protect against evil spirits. It was also worn for protection in the afterlife and is often found buried with the dead, given as a grave gift since Ramesside times . It was expected to foster fruitfulness and good health for women, and for men it signified virility.
The inscription upon the seated statue of Lady Hel, reads as follows, “everything that comes forth in the presence of the gods of Memphis for the Osiris, the lady Hel…”, “one who makes music for (her) lady”,
Museo Egizio. Cat. 7352
Summary:
Seated limestone statue of the Lady Hel
19th Dynasty, reign of Ramesses II, c. 1279–1213 B.C.
Likely from a Tomb Chapel at Saqqara.
Museo Egizio. Cat. 7352
