Statue of King Djoser

This statue was found in a closed room called Serdab, northeast of the funerary complex of King Djoser at Saqqara.

It is believed that the statue of Djoser is the oldest known life-sized Egyptian statue. It depicts King Djoser himself, seated on his throne and enveloped in a jubilee cloak. The statue was entirely coated with white plaster and painted. The deep-set eyes were once inlaid.

The king has a ceremonial false beard and wears a black wig topped by the royal nemes headdress. The front side of the pedestal is inscribed with hieroglyphic text, indicating the name and epitaphs of King Nethery-khet of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Djoser, also spelled Zoser, second king of the 3rd Dynasty of ancient Egypt, who undertook the construction of the earliest important stone building in Egypt. His reign, which probably lasted 19 years, was marked by great technological innovation in the use of stone architecture.

Today, at the site in Saqqara where it was found, a plaster copy of it stands in place of the original. The statue was discovered during the Antiquities Service Excavations of 1924-1925.

Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty, ca. 2686-2613 BC. Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 49158