Stele of Iku

This stele features a low-relief depiction of a seated woman named Iku, positioned on a chair with lion’s legs.

In front of her is an offering table adorned with loaves of bread. She is portrayed wearing a long, smooth wig and a close-fitting dress, while holding a flower to her nose. To the right of the table, a calf’s head is placed on a tray. Above this scene, two framed lines of text are inscribed.

The inscription reads:

“A boon which the king gives to Osiris in Abydos, that he may give an invocation-offering to the daily watcher of Min, Iku.”

This text suggests that the stele was created as a votive offering, with the king granting a boon to Osiris in Abydos, enabling the offering of daily invocations to Min on behalf of Iku.

The stele’s artistic style and the depiction of Iku reflect the funerary practices and religious beliefs of the 6th Dynasty in ancient Egypt. Objects like this stele were commonly used to honor individuals and ensure their well-being in the afterlife.

Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty, ca. 2345-2181 BC. Limestone. Dimensions: 34 x 32 x 2.8 cm. Now in the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam. APM 3400