Relief of Mentuemhat as Priest with Staff and Scepter

Relief of Mentuemhat in his robes as a priest of Amun and carrying the wand used to consecrate food offerings to the god. Raised relief in the style of his time, but showing some influence of Middle Kingdom work.

Mentuemhat is one of the most recognizable nonroyal names from ancient Egypt. He was a rich and powerful mayor and priest of Thebes and Governor of Upper Egypt who rebuilt the city after the Assyrians destroyed it.

Mentuemhat’s power over Thebes likely is what inspired him to portray himself as a king in his statuary, like he was king of Egypt—and in the case of Upper Egypt, he de facto was.

He is known from many statues and was buried in tomb (TT34) of the Theban Necropolis. Mentuemhat’s father likely served as Mayor of Thebes during the reign of Shebitku.

Montuemhat’s father Nesptah passed on the position of Mayor of Thebes to his nephew Remmakheru and later to Mentuemhat himself. He served during the reigns of Taharqa and Psamtik I, which cover parts of the 25th Dynasty of Egypt and 26th Dynasty of Egypt.

Late Period, 26th Dynasty, ca. 664-525 BC. Medium: limestone Dimensions: overall: 85.2 x 46 cm (33 9/16 x 18 1/8 in.). Gift of the Hanna Fund. Purchased from Mrs. Paul Mallon, Paris (Mallon 182A). From tomb of Mentuemhat (TT34), El-Assasif, Thebes. Now in the Cleveland Museum of Art. 1949.492